More than 825 metres long and 90 metres high at certain points, the Senqu bridge from South Africa to Lesotho has officially been opened.

While the R2.4 billion bridge over the Senqu valley was opened to traffic in March 2026 after three years of construction, it was officially inaugurated by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Lesotho’s King Letsie III on 22 April, according to Engineering Newes.

The bridge along with the Mabunyane and Khubelu bridges are critical components of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase 2. They will give residents of Lesotho’s Mokhotlong district access to the national road network as the Polihali reservoir fills to its full supply level.

The Polihali and Katse dams (phase one) are central to the LHWP, which will eventually supply the Gauteng region with about 1 260 million m³ of water a year.

The design of the Senqu bridge combines the principles of a box girder bridge and a cable-stayed bridge.

The bridge is supported by 17 piers, the tallest of which is 87.8m. Fifteen of the 17 piers will be submerged up to 85m when the Polihali is filled to capacity

The design features an integrated bridge monitoring system to continuously monitor tilt, temperature, movement and structural stresses in the piers, deck and cables of the bridge.

The bridge’s longest span, 100m between the seventh and ninth piers, crosses the deepest section of the Senqu valley.

28  April 2026
Image: Webuild Group