In the Guinean capital Conakry, Ballast Nedam International Projects realised the Five Bridges project together with various partners. This project consists of a total bridge length of 764 metres plus 12 kilometres of connecting road.
Conakry is the largest and busiest city in the West African country of Guinea. Almost two million residents make their way here every day through an area full of natural barriers such as ravines, dry riverbeds and estuaries. The five new steel bridges ensure that city districts are better connected and safer to reach. The bridges also enable ambulances to travel more quickly to and from hospitals. In short, an important project.
Cultural square
As a contract manager, Pieter de Bruijn was involved in negotiations with both the client (the Guinean Ministry of Infrastructure) and subcontractors at an early stage. ‘As Ballast Nedam International Projects, we operated here in a cultural square: Guinea as the client, ourselves as the Turkish/Dutch main contractor, and a Chinese party as the main subcontractor for the civil works. This led to challenges, for example in terms of work culture, language and communication.’ Finance manager Marc Gordijn, who has been stationed in Guinea since 2022, adds: ‘Think of safety issues. It required constant supervision to ensure that work was carried out in accordance with our standards. This included the consistent use of personal protective equipment, as well as making sure that the correct lifting equipment was available. In this way, we ensured that work was done properly and safely’.
Construction accelerated
To make room for the project, people and buildings had to be relocated. ‘In the case of a mosque, this turned out to be a delicate issue’, says Marc. ‘That caused significant delays.’ Nevertheless, the entire project was delivered on time and within budget. All bridges were ready for use in January 2026. Work that had been scheduled to take three years was completed in a year and a half. From spring 2024 onwards, project manager Erkan Kiliç took the lead in this effort: ‘To speed up the construction and reduce the risks, we have implemented several optimisations. For example, we have adapted the installation method, including the use of cranes and temporary support structures.’ Marc: ‘After a period of delays and problems, that was the moment when we were able to move forward at full speed and still meet the schedule’.
Pragmatic and transparent
As success factors, Marc points to pragmatism and the ability to deal with cultural differences. ‘Not only on the construction site, but also within the wider team. You have to be willing to separate the contractual world from everyday reality. That means working closely with the client, being transparent but still ensuring that the contract and all the rules are met.’
Pride
As the dust settles after this large and complicated project, five brand new bridges connect the different parts of Conakry. It makes life easier for residents, who can now reach their work and families more easily, and it boosts the local economy. Pieter, Marc and Erkan look back on the project very positively. ‘If, under these circumstances, you manage to build five bridges with associated roads and footpaths within schedule and budget, you can truly be proud of that.’
