Second Niger bridge
The Second Niger Bridge is a 1.6-kilometre concrete box girder bridge spanning the River Niger and connecting Asaba in Delta State to Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria.[1][2] Built to relieve chronic congestion on the original Niger Bridge constructed in 1965, it forms the core of Phase 1 of a broader 46.9-kilometre infrastructure initiative that incorporates 10.3 kilometres of approach roads, two secondary bridges each 21.7 metres long, and a cloverleaf interchange at Onitsha-Owerri Road.[3][1] The project, funded through the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund and overseen by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc as the main contractor, commenced construction in August 2018 and achieved completion of its primary span and immediate ancillary works by December 2023, when it was handed over to the federal government.[1][2] Totaling approximately ₦427 billion in cost for the full envisioned scope, the bridge enhances regional economic connectivity by facilitating faster goods and passenger movement between southeastern and south-southern Nigeria, thereby supporting trade, reducing emissions from idling vehicles, and addressing longstanding bottlenecks in national transport logistics.[3] Although initial contract awards date back to 2006 with subsequent delays due to funding and execution challenges, the structure's delivery marks a pivotal step in modernizing Nigeria's critical river crossings despite persistent infrastructural hurdles.[3][4]Geographical and Strategic Context
Location and Regional Connectivity
The Second Niger Bridge crosses the Niger River, directly linking Asaba, the capital of Delta State on the western bank, to Onitsha, a major commercial hub in Anambra State on the eastern bank.[2] This strategic location addresses the limitations of the original Niger Bridge, built in 1965, which had become a severe traffic bottleneck for cross-river movement.[5] As part of Nigeria's national road infrastructure, the bridge integrates with principal expressways such as the Asaba–Benin and Onitsha–Owerri routes, enhancing connectivity between the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones.[6] It forms a key segment of the Trans-African Highway network, facilitating the efficient transport of goods and people across southeastern Nigeria and beyond, thereby reducing transit times and supporting regional trade flows.[2] The structure decongests the existing crossing, which previously handled all vehicular traffic between oil-producing western areas and the densely populated eastern markets, including Onitsha's expansive trading centers.[3] Ongoing access road developments, including Phase 2B initiated in 2025, further bolster linkages to broader highway systems, promoting economic integration across Nigeria's divided regions.[7]Economic and Logistical Significance
The Second Niger Bridge, spanning the Niger River between Asaba in Delta State and Onitsha in [Anambra State](/page/Anambra State), addresses chronic logistical bottlenecks on the original Niger Bridge, which has long constrained the movement of goods and passengers across Nigeria's southeastern and southwestern regions. By providing an alternative crossing, it reduces transit times and alleviates congestion that previously caused delays of up to several hours daily for millions of commuters and commercial vehicles, thereby enhancing supply chain efficiency along key east-west corridors linking the commercial hub of Onitsha to Lagos and other western economic centers.[3][8] Economically, the bridge facilitates expanded trade volumes at Onitsha Main Market, recognized as Africa's largest by geographical size and goods throughput, serving as a vital regional distribution point for agricultural produce, manufactured items, and imports. Improved connectivity lowers transportation costs and spoilage risks for perishable southeastern exports like yams and palm oil, while enabling faster market access for importers, which is projected to stimulate investments in agriculture, small-scale manufacturing, and logistics services across contiguous states.[9][3][8] The infrastructure's completion, with the main span opened to light traffic in December 2022 and full phases reaching 100% by late 2024, has already generated direct employment during construction—peaking at thousands of jobs—and indirect opportunities in ancillary sectors such as trucking and warehousing, contributing to broader regional GDP growth through multiplier effects on commerce and reduced economic leakages from inefficiencies. Ongoing access road developments, such as Phase 2B initiated in August 2025, are essential to realizing these benefits fully, as incomplete linkages could otherwise limit freight capacity for heavier loads.[3][6][10]Design and Technical Specifications
Engineering Features
The Second Niger Bridge utilizes a prestressed concrete box girder design for its main structure, with haunched girders in the central spans to enhance load distribution and structural depth varying from 4.3 to 7.8 meters.[11] The river crossing spans 1,600 meters, incorporating a main bridge section of 630 meters featuring spans up to a maximum of 150 meters, flanked by western and eastern approach viaducts of 755 meters and 205 meters, respectively.[2] [11] Construction methods include balanced cantilever for the main bridge and incremental launching for the approach viaducts, enabling efficient erection over the river and swampy terrain.[11] [2] Foundations rely on driven piles with diameters up to 2.032 meters to penetrate the soft alluvial soils, supplemented by soil stabilization techniques such as vertical drainage and reinforced sand dams averaging 6 meters in height.[2] [11] The deck measures 28.3 meters wide, providing dual carriageways with three lanes each direction, and incorporates provisions for a 10-meter fluctuation in river water levels between dry and rainy seasons.[11] [2] Material quantities encompass 153,000 cubic meters of concrete and 22,000 tons of reinforcing steel, ensuring resilience against environmental loads and seismic activity in the region.[2]Dimensions and Capacity Statistics
The Second Niger Bridge comprises a main river-crossing section totaling 1,600 meters in length, constructed as a reinforced concrete structure.[2] This includes a central main bridge of 630 meters spanning five fields, with a maximum span width of 150 meters to accommodate the Niger River's navigational channel; a western approach bridge of 755 meters consisting of 14 fields each with 55-meter spans; and an eastern approach bridge of 205 meters across four fields.[2] The bridge employs a dual carriageway design with three lanes per direction, providing six traffic lanes total, alongside pedestrian walkways on both sides.[12] [13] This configuration aims to enhance vehicular throughput across the river, addressing congestion on the existing First Niger Bridge, though specific daily vehicle capacity figures have not been publicly detailed in engineering disclosures.[3]| Component | Length | Spans/Details |
|---|---|---|
| Main Bridge | 630 m | 5 fields, max. span 150 m |
| West Approach | 755 m | 14 fields × 55 m each |
| East Approach | 205 m | 4 fields |
| Total River Crossing | 1,600 m | Dual 3-lane carriageway (6 lanes total) |