Bizerte Bridge Project on Track for 2027 completion

The Bizerte Bridge project is progressing well and remains on schedule for completion by mid-2027, according to the Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia. Wan Li confirmed the project’s advancement, stating that approximately 14 percent of the foundation work is finished. The next steps involve completing the basic structures and underwater infrastructure.

The initiative has a total budget of around 250 million euros and benefits from significant international support. The European Investment Bank (EIB) provided a €123 million loan, guaranteed by the European Union (EU). The African Development Bank (AfDB) contributed a further €122 million loan. As 2016,the EU has also provided around €3 million for feasibility studies and planning.

Despite substantial European funding, the €200 million construction contract – representing 79 percent of the total investment – was awarded to the Chinese company, Sichuan Road and Bridge Group (SRBG), following an international tender. Ambassador Wan Li highlighted the strong collaboration with Tunisian authorities to ensure the project finishes in the second half of 2027. Pillar excavation began in July, and materials and equipment arrived between September and October.

The new bridge, 2.07 km long and 56 m high, is strategically positioned between Lake Bizerte and the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a crucial infrastructure project for Tunisia, designed to improve mobility and quality of life. The bridge will connect the city to its industrial area and enhance access to the commercial port. Divided into three phases – south access,main bridge,and north access with motorway connections – it will divert traffic from the city center,easing congestion on the existing bascule bridge,which currently handles over 44,000 vehicles daily.

Beyond traffic optimization, the project aims to stimulate the regional economy by facilitating trade with the northeast and the Algerian border. The Bizerte governorate, in northern Tunisia, is focused on strengthening its economic and tourism sectors through major infrastructure developments.

Abdellatif Hamid,the Regional Director for Development,recently announced plans to build a third- or fourth-generation deep-water port capable of accommodating large ships and boosting the local economy.This port project is part of a five-year development plan.