The Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Bridge, opened in 1957, is a road and rail bridge crossing the Ébrié Lagoon to connect the Plateau commune to Treichville, and with the General-de-Gaulle Bridge, Abidjan North to Abidjan South. Traffic jams are very frequent during rush hour. It replaces the old floating bridge of Abidjan, which was completed in 1951. During the colonial era, the Plateau, which today constitutes the economic heart of Abidjan and the economic capital, represented the sector reserved for French settlers. Conversely, the indigenous district was Anoumabo, whose name means "fruit bat forest". Following the fatal capsizing of the Anoumabo-Plateau ferry on December 18, 1930, which claimed 50 lives, a 290-meter floating bridge was built in 1931, integrating a dual road and rail function to serve the indigenous and colonial districts of Abidjan. This 290-meter-long floating bridge included a roadway as well as a railway. Its surface was covered with wood and featured a cycle path approximately 2 meters wide on each side, separated from the vehicle lanes by a low wall approximately 30 cm high. After the floating bridge revealed its limitations, the colonial authorities decided to begin construction of a new bridge. The latter, known today as the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Bridge, is still in service. It was inaugurated and put into service in March 1958. This bridge is 372 meters long and 24.85 meters wide. In 2018, renovation work on the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Bridge began.
Translated by Google •
In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!