The Matadi Bridge was built with the cooperation of Japan and opened to traffic in 1983. The bridge, which has become a symbol of friendship between the DRC and Japan, has been protected by the Congolese people even when Japanese support ceased due to political instability in the DRC, and will celebrate its 40th anniversary in May 2023. The skills and beliefs of “bridge protection” passed down from Japan are being passed on to the younger generation who will lead the next generation in the country.
Matadi Bridge, built with the latest technology in Japanese suspension bridge construction.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (hereafter referred to as the “Congo People”) is located in the central part of the African continent. The Matadi Bridge, the largest suspension bridge in Africa, is the only bridge that spans the middle and lower reaches of the Congo River, which boasts the world’s second largest basin area and flow rate. Its beautifully maintained appearance makes it hard to believe that it was built 40 years ago. Behind this is the strong bond that has been nurtured between the Congolese people and Japan.
The Matadi Bridge was planned as a key land transportation link for the mineral-rich Congolese people. Construction of the 722-meter-long bridge, which began in 1979 and was completed in 1983 with Japanese yen loans, is located on the main road connecting the Atlantic Ocean port and the capital city of Kinshasa. In the late 1970s, when the Matadi Bridge was planned, research and development was underway in Japan for the construction of the Seto Bridge, and the adoption of the latest technology at the time facilitated the design and construction.
The Matadi Bridge, the first long suspension bridge on the African continent. It was also the first step in the overseas development of Japanese suspension bridge construction technology.
A total of 74 Japanese specialists were dispatched to complete the construction, working in cooperation with the local agency, the Organization of Banana and Kinshasa Transportation Authority (hereinafter referred to as OEBK). One of them, Masaaki Tatsumi, a specialist in suspension bridges (currently a technical advisor to Oriental Consultants Global, Inc.
The project was completed 14 months ahead of schedule, thanks to the efficient use of large equipment, the teamwork of many Japanese specialists with Congolese technicians, and the excellent work of the Congolese construction workers.
The national opening ceremony was a great success, and after the ceremony, the bridge was so crowded with Congolese people who were so happy to see the bridge open that it shook. The Matadi Bridge has become a major national project for the Congolese people and a symbol of friendship between the Congolese people and Japan.
After the opening ceremony, the Matadi Bridge was filled with people making their first crossing (Source: “Matadi Bridge Construction Journal,” JSCE).
Today, it remains one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, attracting many visitors on weekends (photo by Shinichi Kuno).
Congolese people maintained their “love of bridges” during turbulent times
After the completion of the Matadi Bridge, the maintenance of the bridge was entrusted to the OEBK, and Japanese experts visited the area every two to three years to provide short-term guidance during regular inspections, but the Kinshasa riots in 1991 led to a long period of political instability, and Japan was forced to suspend its support. All that was left in the region were maintenance and inspection manuals. Despite various difficulties, including a lack of experience and funds and a loss of human resources due to the conflict, Congolese engineers such as Andre Madiata Ndele Buba and Kalombo Mukeba Joseph, who had been involved in the project since its construction, became “bridge guardians” and have continued to maintain and manage the bridge.
In 2012, Japanese assistance resumed and the “Matadi Bridge Maintenance and Management Capacity Improvement Project,” a JICA technical cooperation project, was launched. Mr. Tatsumi visited the site for the first time in a long time as the leader of the cable opening survey conducted as part of this project, and was surprised to see that the bridge looked almost the same as when it was completed, without reminding him of the 29 years that had passed.
I hope that by touching bridges every day, taking care of them, and becoming fond of them, people will maintain the will to inspect them and act accordingly. I was deeply moved to see that the “love of bridges” that we Japanese wanted to convey along with our technology was firmly rooted in the bridge industry.
Mr. Tatsumi was photographed with Ms. Madiata (right) and Mr. Calombo (left) during his field research in 2012. With the dormitory where Mr. Tatsumi’s family lived when the bridge was built and where Mr. Calombo was living at the time of the photo shoot in the background.
Madiata and Kalombo loved the Matadi Bridge and persevered in maintaining it even during the period of civil unrest in the Congo. The OEBK has been collecting tolls since 1987 in order to secure a budget for the maintenance of the bridge, and it was this reserve that covered the cost of the repainting. The OEBK has been collecting tolls since 1987 in order to secure a budget for bridge maintenance.
Although the Matadi Bridge had been beautifully managed, some issues emerged during the cable opening survey, including the discovery of rust inside the cables. Therefore, it was decided to formulate a maintenance management plan incorporating the latest methods.
We installed a cable air drying system to prevent rusting. This system was first put to practical use on the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and is now a global standard,” says Tatsumi. Dehumidified air is blown into the cables that support the bridge, preventing cable corrosion and improving durability.
Based on the results of the study, the construction work implemented with JICA’s grant aid was completed in 2017, and the maintenance and management manual was updated. At the party at the completion ceremony, Mr. Madiata said, “The challenge is how to train successors in the future. JICA continues to support the development of the next generation of engineers by dispatching Japanese experts to the site and regularly inviting Congolese engineers to Japan for training.
OEBK technicians working on a cable several dozen meters above the ground. Mr. Kalombo (far right), a veteran technician, gives technical guidance to younger technicians. The port of Matadi can be seen from the bridge (photo by Shinichi Kuno).
Ties between Japan and the Congolese people, passed down from veteran to younger generations
In January 2023, Mr. Madiata and Mr. Calombo, both veterans, finally retired. The role of bridge guard has been handed over to younger engineers. One of them is Mr. Belkadi Bahangul. He became a member of OEBK in 2015 during the installation of the cable airflow drying system and now serves as the system supervisor as the head of the Technical Section.
As a legend, I have great respect for Mr. Madiata and Mr. Calombo, who have carefully protected the bridge over the years. It is thanks to them that the Matadi Bridge exists today. I would like to contribute to the maintenance of the bridge as a successor,” said Mr. Belkadi.
Mr. Madiata, Mr. Calombo, Mr. Tatsumi, and Mr. Belcadi, who spoke passionately about his passion for bridges.
Mr. Belkadi (center) conducting onsite
Maintaining the system requires a lot of work, such as measuring and recording temperature, humidity, and other data daily, as well as managing and inspecting related equipment. In the beginning, Tatsumi-san checked the measurement data sent to Japan every Friday and replied with advice.
I am very happy and encouraged to receive such warm recommendations from Japan’s top engineers. I am proud of my work to protect the Matadi Bridge and will continue to do so for years to come,” he said emphatically.
Thus, the Matadi Bridge has been carefully maintained for 40 years, thanks to the guidance of Japanese engineers and the indomitable spirit of Congolese engineers. A major challenge in recent years has been the deterioration of the road surface pavement, and a JICA cooperative preparatory survey for its rehabilitation was just completed this past May.
Tatsumi has high expectations for the project, saying, “If it is realized, it will be the first time in a long time that Congolese and Japanese will work together in the field, and I think it will further deepen the bond between the two countries. If we can also promote the training of young Japanese, which is an urgent task, the bridge of friendship between the two countries will surely be maintained for many years to come.
© Source JICA
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