Martyrs Bridge (Bamako)

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, 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 is at Gao, Mali.

A Chinese funded third road bridge, downstream on the east end of Bamako, is in the planning stage.