Re-constructed Roche Caiman bridge now operational |26 December 2007
It was the resident representative of the UNDP for Seychelles and Mauritius, Claudio 
The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Patrick Pillay; the Minister for Education, Bernard Shamlaye; principal secretaries; Bishop Santosh Marray of the Anglican Church; UNDP staff and representatives of donors and of the Vijay Construction and other companies which reconstructed the structure.
The bridge now has four lanes, with the two heading towards the south leading into a newly built roundabout which has branches going to Eden island on the left and to Roche Caiman on the right.
Following damage by the tsunami, the government launched an appeal internationally and donor countries responded with funds which were channeled through the UNDP. The countries are Australia, Canada, the European Union, Nigeria, Seychelles and the UK.
The new bridge is 35m long with the four lanes, but also has and additional 7m wide access linking the two housing estates, making a total width of 30.5m. The clear height under the fascia beams is more than 2.5m above mean sea level to allow small boats to cross under the bridge. The structure is made of concrete supported by 34 tubular steel pipes filled with concrete and reinforced. All the piles have been driven to bed rock to an average depth of nearly 22m below Mean Sea Level. The top of the piles is tied together with ground beams. The bridge superstructure is supported on reinforced concrete columns and abutment walls laid on the piles. The bridge deck is 250mm thick reinforced concrete slab and beam structure supported on the abutment walls and columns and is overlaid with asphaltic concrete.
While receiving the bridge from Mr Calderone, Minister Morgan recalled the disastrous morning when the ocean waves swept the previous structure, and expressed appreciation to all the donors and the UNDP.