State-of-the-art maintenance technology in long span suspension Matadi Bridge

Challenge

The 722m long Matadi Bridge, a road and rail suspension bridge that is the only bridge that crosses the Congo River and connects Banana Port and Boma Port to the capital city of Kinshasa, was inaugurated in May 1983. The bridge is not only a critical transportation hub but also indispensable for the surrounding residents.

In 2009, the first repainting work was completed, overcoming various economic and political obstacles after 26 years since the opening the bridge. The next repainting is expected to be done in 2035.

The Project under a JICA study carried out in June 2011 found 2m long rusted-through openings in both upstream and downstream main cables, which would have negatively impacted the working condition and life span of the bridge.

To resolve this issue, cutting-edge maintenance technology for long span suspension bridges was decided to be applied in the Matadi Bridge: a dehumidification system.

Services

The main services of the Project were:
・To conduct visual investigation of the main cable since its opening
・To design a dehumidification system for the main cable and chambers of anchorage
・To assist the tender stage (Tender Assistance)
・To supervise the installation work of the dehumidification system.
These services were carried out in close coordination with OEBK’s engineers and management staff, in order to fully grasp the bridge conditions and properly plan out the countermeasure and system needed for the Matadi Bridge.

Results

The Project successfully introduced and installed the dehumidification system of the main cable and chambers of anchorage, to prevent the rust processing occurring inside the cables.

The technology transfer was also implemented to OEBK’s young engineers to operate and maintain the overall maintenance system of the Matadi Bridge, to secure its safety and life span extension.

Award

This project was awarded the 2022 Infrastructure Maintenance Award by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE).

Link

Cabinet Office Public Relations Magazine : Technology Inherited from Japan Supports the Maintenance of Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Matadi Bridge
JSCE Archives : Matadi Bridge (Le Pont Maréchal) Construction Project
『マタディ橋ものがたり—日本の技術でつくられ、コンゴ人に守られる吊橋』(Japanese Only)
『マタディ橋ものがたり—日本の技術でつくられ、コンゴ人に守られる吊橋』YouTube (Japanese Only)
JICA MAGAZINE『世界に架けた2,000を超える橋が人とモノの自由な往来を実現』(Japanese Only)