The Senqu Bridge project forms part of the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. It is the largest of the three major bridges under construction to span the Polihali reservoir. 

Almost 825 metres long and 90 metres high, it will be the first extradosed bridge in Lesotho. It is also larger than the Mphorosane Bridge on the Malibamats’o River which spans the Katse dam and was constructed under the first phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. 

The bridge design has taken into consideration the Mokhotlong highlands’ long, cold and harsh winter conditions.

Due to the deep valley and the terrain of the area, the deck will be constructed incrementally from both abutments. This construction method will minimise disturbance to the surrounding work area and increase workers’ safety. An in-situ segment midspan of the centre span will connect the two parts to form a continuous deck. The pier shape is ideal to be constructed with sliding formwork.

Work on the bridge design started in 2018, led by Zutari, formerly Aurecon Lesotho. Zutari also designed the Mabunyaneng and Khubelu bridges, the other two major bridges to be constructed under phase two. 

The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) awarded the Senqu Bridge construction contract valued at approximately Maloti 2 billion (US$103 million) to the WRES Senqu Bridge Joint Venture in August 2022. 

The WRES Joint Venture includes South African, Lesotho and international companies as per the requirements of the phase two agreement.  The primary partners are Webuild (Italy); Raubex Construction (South Africa); Enza Construction (South Africa) and Sigma Construction (Lesotho). 

Subcontractors include EXR Construction (South Africa); Gleitbau-Geselschaft (Austria); Post Tensioning and Structural Solutions (South Africa) and Freyssinet International et Cie (France).

Senqu Bridge is expected to be completed in early 2026. 

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is a multi-phase programme to harness the water resources of the highlands of Lesotho through the construction of a series of dams and tunnels to deliver water to South Africa and electricity to Lesotho. 

(All photos supplied by LHDA)