The construction of the Trans-Gambia bridge between Bamba Tenda and Yelli Tenda has been completed and will be open for traffic after the official opening in a week’s time.

The bridge linking The Gambia and Senegal will be officially opened by the presidents of the two neighbouring countries. The bridge link two sections of highway crossing 25 kilometers (16 miles) of Gambian territory to the bulk of Senegal in the north and the southern Casamance region.

“The Trans-Gambia Bridge is the biggest success story of Senegambia relations and is a symbol of west African integration because the bridge not only link Senegal’s north and south but other countries like Guinea and beyond.

“The bridge has been discussed since the 1950s but there were no agreements and it is something that Gambians should be proud of and it offers us hope towards easing the movement of people, goods and services,” said an official of the Ferry Services.

The official blamed the delay of the construction on Senegal’s insistence on joint ownership and management of the bridge.

“This bridge was in the middle of the Gambian territory. So it was a question of sovereignty,” said the official, adding that the revenue from the toll to cross the bridge would go to The Gambia’s government coffers.

According to the contractors the bridge will be the highest in West Africa with the height of 16.9 meters which will allow ships to pass under it.

The bridge is 20 meters away from the route of ferry crossing towards the west and finance by the African Development Bank (ADB) at a cost of $100 million.