On March 26, 2024, a milestone project officially commenced with the signing ceremony in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. Sichuan Road and Bridge Group, a subsidiary of Shudao Investment Group, successfully signed a contract with the Tunisian Ministry of Equipment and Housing to undertake the country’s largest ongoing bridge project—the Bizerte Bridge.
This collaboration not only demonstrates China’s leading capabilities in bridge construction but also signifies a solid step forward in infrastructure cooperation between China and Tunisia.
The Bizerte Bridge project is located 70 kilometers north of Tunis, spanning the picturesque Bizerte Canal adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea. It serves as a crucial link for Bizerte City connecting to other regions and will become a new landmark in the area. With a total length of 2070 meters and a main span of nearly 300 meters, the scale of this bridge is rare in Tunisia and even across North Africa.
Tunisia’s decision to select a Chinese company as the contractor for this project is primarily based on China’s excellent experience and technical strength in bridge construction. Tunisian Minister of Equipment and Housing, Zainab Zari, emphasized during the signing ceremony that the construction of the Bizerte Bridge will significantly improve the city’s traffic conditions, promote local commercial and trade activities, and have profound implications for the development of the northern region of Tunisia.
The project, financed jointly by the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank, has a contract value of approximately 250 million euros (around $271 million) and a duration of 38 months. It will be implemented under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) integrated contracting model, with Sichuan Road and Bridge Group responsible for execution. This model ensures efficient progress and strict quality control of the project.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tunisia, and the successful signing of the Bizerte Bridge project undoubtedly adds vibrancy to this significant moment. The project not only embodies an important achievement of the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative between China and Tunisia but also represents a crucial milestone for Chinese enterprises to deepen cooperation and expand their market in North Africa.
With the official commencement of the project, Sichuan Road and Bridge Group will fully leverage its professional advantages in bridge construction, working together with Tunisia to create a high-quality, high-level landmark project. The completion of the Bizerte Bridge will greatly boost Tunisia’s transportation and economic development while further consolidating and enhancing the position and influence of Chinese enterprises in the international infrastructure market.