Have you ever wondered how long-distance traders and communities trekked through less commutable sections within the area now mapped as Kenya?
Rocks and tree logs are some of the materials that were used to construct temporary bridges back in those days, and they helped commuters cross rivers, large trenches, and even deep swampy areas. These bridges were constructed when there was no other alternative crossing point.
Mombasa Island’s strategic location amplified its importance from as far back as the 13th century. By the 20th century, British officials and settlers had familiarized themselves with the Island and wanted to spread inwards. To get from the island to the mainland, boats were initially used, but were soon considered a slow and risky means. As the East Africa railway project commenced, a modern bridge (Salisbury Bridge) was constructed on the northern side of the Island for the transportation of railway materials and for public crossing.
By the 1920s, there were talks of constructing a major bridge on the eastern side to link Mombasa Island to Nyali on the mainland. This was around the time that the Salisbury Bridge on the northern side of the Island was being replaced by a causeway.
In 1931, colonial Governor, Sir Jospeh Byrne’s administration commissioned Japanese engineers to construct a pontoon bridge. Some sources however point to the Guinness family from Ireland, saying that the bridge was a donation from them.
The floating bridge was fixed to the floor of the ocean through large anchors, similar to those used in warships of those times, and was built using steel. Upon completion, Mombasa-east and the areas east of Tudor Creek such as Bamburi and Kisauni were easily accessible thanks to the bridge. This development also brought forth the rise of private companies and hotels on the eastern side of Mombasa Island and in Nyali.
The bridge took hold even after independence. Then towards the end of the 1970s, construction of a new, modern bridge commenced. The former pontoon bridge was dismantled and replaced by a beam bridge.
The new Nyali Bridge was completed in 1981. It is approximately 390 metres long and 26 metres wide, and is divided into six lanes. The bridge underwent maintenance in 2005.
