In 1988, Slaheddine Belaïd, former Tunisian Minister of Equipment, was Director General of Bridges and Roads. At that time, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) modified its cooperation doctrine with Tunisia to include infrastructure projects. Belaïd was informed that JICA would consider financing projects with a medium or long-term maturity. He saw an opportunity to propose three fixed-link projects: between La Goulette and Radès, Jorf and Ajim on the island of Djerba, and a second bridge over the Bizerte canal.
The existing ferry services between La Goulette and Radès and between Jorf and Ajim were insufficient, with a capacity of only 1200 to 1500 cars per day. The Radès-La Goulette link was prioritized by the Japanese ambassador to Tunis during a meeting with Minister of Equipment Sadok Ben Jemaa. Preliminary studies by JICA between 1988 and 1990 concluded that the Radès project was feasible and profitable, with an estimated cost of 140 million Tunisian dinars.
Despite the project's potential, the Tunisian Ministry of Planning delayed submitting the financing request to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The loan agreement was not signed until March 1999, and the construction contract was not approved until early 2004. The project faced numerous delays, but the bridge was finally inaugurated in 2009, over 20 years after its initial proposal.
The Radès Bridge has become a symbol of Tunisian-Japanese cooperation, similar to the Medjerda-Cap Bon canal, which represented Tunisian-Chinese cooperation. The project's success was made possible by the expertise of Japanese engineers and the financing provided by JBIC. The bridge has significantly improved transportation between La Goulette and Radès.
In addition to the Radès Bridge, other infrastructure projects have been implemented, including the doubling of the Bizerte mobile bridge, which is currently under construction with financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The solution chosen was a fixed bridge with a central height of 56 meters.
Slaheddine Belaïd is confident that the proposed fixed link between Jorf and Ajim on the island of Djerba will be implemented in the near future. The project was initially proposed alongside the Radès bridge but was not prioritized. Belaïd's experience with the Radès Bridge project demonstrates the importance of perseverance and cooperation in achieving large-scale infrastructure projects.
The Radès Bridge project highlights the value of international cooperation in developing Tunisia's infrastructure. The project's success is a testament to the collaboration between the Tunisian government and Japanese institutions, including JICA and JBIC. The bridge has had a significant impact on transportation and economic development in the region.
Key points
- The Radès Bridge was inaugurated in 2009 after over 20 years of delays.
- The project was made possible by financing from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
- The bridge has become a symbol of Tunisian-Japanese cooperation and has significantly improved transportation between La Goulette and Radès.
