A new 2.4 billion-rand bridge has been launched as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, aiming to boost water exports from Lesotho to South Africa and strengthen Lesotho’s economy and energy security.

Key officials at the event included South Africa’s President and Lesotho’s Prime Minister, who stressed the project’s development impact, royalties, infrastructure, and accountability in delivering benefits to the people.

The project will raise South Africa’s annual water imports from Lesotho from about 780 million to more than 1.27 billion cubic meters, fortifying supplies for Gauteng and other industrial hubs.

Additional work remains, notably a 38-kilometer tunnel linking the Polihali and Katse reservoirs, with efforts focused on translating benefits into daily improvements for local communities.

The broader context includes ongoing works such as the Polihali–Katse tunnel and anticipated benefits in royalties and infrastructure to support development finance goals.

Lesotho faces economic challenges, including around 30% unemployment and tariff pressures affecting its textile and mining sectors, with U.S. tariffs and aid cuts impacting development.

Trade tariffs from the United States—up to 50% on textiles and mining products—and reductions in U.S. aid are influencing Lesotho’s economy and health programs.

The Senqu Bridge spans about 825 meters (2,700 feet) in length and rises roughly 90 meters (295 feet), facilitating movement across the Polihali reservoir as water levels rise during dam construction.

The 825-meter, 90-meter bridge—costing around R2.4 billion and the largest of three Phase II bridges—links the Polihali Reservoir area to the A1 route from Mokhotlong to Maseru.

The Senqu Bridge is Lesotho’s first extradosed structure, combining cable-stayed and prestressed girder design, built with an incremental launching method to boost safety and reduce environmental disruption.

Construction has created roughly 1,200 jobs, mostly for Basotho residents, during a period of high unemployment and poverty in Lesotho.

The bridge project stands as the largest of three bridges supporting northeastern Lesotho’s water infrastructure.