Environmental Services The Kazangula Bridge Project: Environmental Monitoring What is the Kazangula Bridge Project? Digby Wells’ Role Project Value The Kazungula Bridge Project was initiated Digby Wells was appointed and is solely responsible for the monitoring of Outside of the project scope of by the two member states, wherein August potential impacts within the selected environmental parameters that could be environmental monitoring, Digby Wells has 2007, the Governments of Botswana and affected by the construction activities of the two border posts and the bridge. extended its mandate and has assumed Zambia announced a deal to construct a road the role of overall Project Environmentalist. and rail bridge to replace the existing ferry. The monitoring includes besides the three construction sites Any and all environmental related activities one Quarry and six borrow/sand pits that deliver the required Environmental The project consists of the construction of a including: materials for the construction. Services One Stop Border Facilities (OSBP) in each • Internal review of environmental method member state and a 923-meter stay-cable statements required for plant Artist impression of the finished Kazungula Furthermore, Digby Wells seconded an independent ECO to Bridge Project (View from Zambia) bridge structure with railway and approach mobilization; monitor the ESIA compliance of each Contractor and its ramps. • Monitoring of external specialists such Subcontractors on site, on a daily basis. Ecology and The Kazungula bridge will be constructed at as the Archaeologist and Socio- Environmental parameters that are monitored include: Atmospheric the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe Services Economist; and • Air Quality (dust fall out rates and VOC’s); rivers – at Kazangula. • Monitoring of daily Health and Safety • Noise Emissions; Construction of the US$259.3 million project requirements. • Surface Water Quality (physical/chemical & commenced in October 2014. microbiological parameter, pathogens); The Progress to Date • Groundwater Quality (physical/chemical & Water Kazangula Bridge Objectives Geosciences The Kazungula Bridge currently (October microbiological parameter, pathogens); 2019) stands at 89.8% completion and is • Reduced Transit Time for freight & passengers; • Aquatic Bio-Monitoring (Macro invertebrates, Fish, expected to be completely operational in • Reduced Time-based trade & transport cost; riparian vegetation and instream habitat integrity); 2020. Facilitating trade • Improved Border management operations arising On site from the new; After completion, a two-year defection • One Stop Border Facilities. period will start, during which all monitoring activities will continue. • Increased Traffic throughput along the North South Corridor; • Increased Global competitiveness of goods from Botswana Justin du Piesanie, Boosting of Divisional Manager & Zambia due to reduced time-based trade & transport A final evaluation of allSocialassociated and Heritage impacts regional Services economy cost; and during construction and post construction • Reduction of transit time from three days to less than half a will be formulated after the period and day. compared to baseline data collected before the project commenced. Kazangula Bridge Joint Venture A Message from the Project Manager The Kazungula Bridge Consulting Team consists of a group of international engineering companies that monitor and supervise the construction of the It is a privilege to be part of a team consisting of more bridge on behalf of the member states, including compliance with ESIA than 10 nationals and to provide a service to the two requirements and environmental monitoring. These are namely: member states that will ultimately result in a benefit to the infrastructural sector of Southern Africa. Although the KBP is mainly focusing on facilitating easy transit between countries, the environmental and socio- economic side effects of hundreds of trucks waiting for several days on both sides of the Zambezi, which should Elmar Schuran not be underestimated, will be reduced or eliminated Senior Environmental thorough this construction. Consultant (BEAPA) Digby Wells Environmental Inspired by the vision “To move us from the world we live in, to the world we seek. www.digbywells.com .