Sinamalé Bridge

The Sinamalé Bridge (Dhivehi: ސިނަމާލެ ފާލަން) links the islands of Malé, Hulhulé and Hulhumalé (through Hulhulé') in the Maldives.[1] The 1.39 km long bridge has two car lanes and separate lanes for motorcycles, and pedestrians,[2] and opened on 30 August 2018. It was originally called the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge due to funding received from the Chinese government.[3][4] It is the first inter-island bridge in the Maldives.[5] China's debt encumbers the Maldives' ambitious 'pathway to prosperity.' Concerns loom as this minuscule, tourism-reliant country finds itself heavily indebted to China. The construction of the bridge stands as just one among numerous significant ventures completed during the tenure of Abdullah Yameen, a president aligned with China, who assumed office in 2013.[6] In 2014, Yameen undertook the commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), thus facilitating the participation of Chinese enterprises in funding vital infrastructure undertakings within the Maldives, notably exemplified by the construction of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.[7]

Sinamalé Bridge ސިނަމާލެ ފާލަން China-Maldives Friendship Bridge
An aerial view of the bridge
Coordinates	4°10′24″N 73°31′28″E
Carries	Motor vehicles and Pedestrians
Crosses	Malé, Hulhulé
Locale	Maldives
Official name	Sinamalé Bridge
Maintained by	China Harbour Engineering
Characteristics
Design	Curve bridge
Total length	1.39 km
Width	20.3 m
History
Constructed by	China Harbour Engineering Company
Construction end	30 August 2018
Opened	7 September 2018
Inaugurated	30 August 2018
Location

The idea of a bridge between the two islands of Malé and Hulhulé was first raised in 2007[8] and was widely discussed in 2008 following the pledge on constructing a bridge by the then president Maumoon during his presidential campaign.[9][10][11] Mohamed Nasheed, another presidential candidate, and the opposition criticized the idea at the time [9]

It was started by president Abdulla Yameen in 2014[12][13] and was officially inaugurated in 2018.[14]

It is estimated the bridge would cost US$210 million, of which US$126 million will be paid by the Chinese government as a grant in aid.[15] China Harbour Engineering (CHEC) is the main contractor and had been praised for the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge in Malaysia.[16]

On 8 January 2022 the Government of Maldives and the China International Development Cooperation signed a letter of exchange to conduct a feasibility study on the management and maintenance of the Sinamalé Bridge.[17]