The Martyrs Bridge (Pont des martyrs) of Bamako, Mali connects the older sections of the city to its suburbs on the south shore of the Niger River. One of three road bridges across the Niger at Bamako, it is also known as the "Old Bridge". Opened in 1957 when Mali was under

French colonial rule The French colonial empire () comprised the overseas colonies, protectorates and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "First French Colonial Empire", that exist ...

, it was renamed the Martyrs Bridge in 1991 following the deaths of protesters against the rule of Moussa Traoré. Martyrs Bridge connects two of the main avenues of the city. ''Avenue Fleuve'' (also known as ''Avenue Modibo Keita''), a broad boulevard enclosing the Square Lamumba which runs north towards the Presidential palace. From the south of the bridge runs

Avenue de l'Unite Africain Avenue or Avenues may refer to: Roads * Avenue (landscape), traditionally a straight path or road with a line of trees, in the shifted sense a tree line itself, or some of boulevards (also without trees) * Avenue Road, Bangalore * Avenue Road, Lon ...

, the major route from the city centre south to Bamako-Senou Airport.

Other crossings

In 1982 a second road bridge, the King Fahd Bridge, was opened just 500 meters upstream. Both bridges connect the central city neighborhood of Commune III with Badalabougou. Prior to the 1950s, the only crossing of the Niger at Bamako was at the Sotuba Causeway, 8 kilometers downstream from the city, which is a low water crossing of cut stone at the location of a natural rapids. The next all season crossing downstream is at the

Markala Dam Markala is a commune in Mali's Ségou Region on the Niger River 35 km down stream from the town of Ségou. The commune contains 30 villages in an area of 318 square kilometers and in 2009 had a population of 45,961.. Mali's primary irrigation ...

, over 200 kilometers east northeast past Segou, which until recently relied on ferry transport to cross one arm of the Niger. The next road bridge to cross the Niger river downstream of

Markala Markala is a commune in Mali's Ségou Region on the Niger River 35 km down stream from the town of Ségou. The commune contains 30 villages in an area of 318 square kilometers and in 2009 had a population of 45,961.. Mali's primary irrigation ...

is at Gao, Mali. A Chinese funded third road bridge, downstream on the east end of Bamako, is in the planning stage.3è pont de Bamako : Le Chantier se Précise à l'Horizon
. L'Essor, 21 May 2007.

References

* Pascal James Imperato. Historical Dictionary of Mali. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ - London (1986) *Velton, Ross. Mali: The Bradt Travel Guide. Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press, 2000. pp. 101–122 {{Coord, 12, 37, 49, N, 7, 59, 31, W, type:landmark, display=title Bridges in Mali Buildings and structures in Bamako Crossings of the Niger River Bridges completed in 1957