University of Cape Town (UCT) Department of Civil Engineering Emeritus Professor Mark Alexander’s wish to stand on top of a suspension bridge and experience its combined forces of nature and structural engineering was recently fulfilled when he got to inspect Africa’s longest suspension bridge – the R11.3-billion Maputo-Katembe bridge. Officially opened in November last year, the bridge and approach is 3 km long, with a main span of 680 m. The main deck hovers 20 m above the water to allow major shipping into the Maputo harbour.