Athi River Super Bridge, Railway bridge in Athi River, Kenya
The Athi River Super Bridge is a railway bridge near Athi River that crosses a wide valley with three separate sections spanning the winding river below. The structure uses prestressed concrete box girders and rises significantly above the surrounding terrain.
The bridge was built as part of the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway to carry a single track over the Athi River near Nairobi. Its 2.6 km length was chosen so the line could skirt the eastern side of Athi River town instead of cutting through it. At completion it was Africa's second-longest railway bridge, after the 3.67 km Dona Ana Bridge.
The bridge design strategically bypasses the town of Athi River, preserving residential communities and industrial zones while maintaining transportation efficiency in the region.
The bridge carries a single-track railway, so there is no public access to the deck; the line skirts the eastern side of Athi River town. Views of the 2.6 km structure and its three crossings of the meandering river are had from open land in the flood plain below. The surrounding ground is undeveloped, so plan for rough terrain and no facilities.
The bridge crosses the meandering Athi River three times within its 2.6 km length, running through undeveloped flood-plain land. Its route was chosen so the railway skirts the eastern side of Athi River town rather than cutting through it, avoiding the demolition of homes and an industrial zone.
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