Makupa Causeway, Transportation bridge in Mombasa, Kenya.
Makupa Causeway is a concrete bridge in Mombasa, Kenya, connecting Mombasa island to the mainland across a stretch of tidal water. It carries both road traffic and a railway line on a shared deck divided into eleven spans.
The causeway was built in 1929 by British colonial authorities to replace an older crossing known as the Britannia Bridge. The new structure allowed heavier loads and faster movement of goods between Mombasa and the interior of Kenya.
The crossing is the main road link between Mombasa island and the rest of Kenya, used daily by trucks, buses, and commuters. Small vendors often set up near the checkpoint, selling goods to drivers slowing down at the police stop.
A police checkpoint at the southern entrance slows traffic, so travelers should allow extra time when crossing. Congestion is worst in the early morning and late afternoon when truck and bus traffic peaks.
The bridge rests on 53 friction piles driven up to 49 meters into the muddy seabed, which was the only way to keep it stable on such soft ground. This makes the foundation far deeper than what most bridges of this size would normally require.
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