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1971-1976 - The company named Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries lays out the plans for
building a bridge at Matadi. They have to find out how the bridge will be financed. A design
is tested in a wind tunnel and is approved. Materials are also tested and selected. November 1978 - The Republic of Zaire hires the Japaneese group of companies of IHI Ltd., Mitsubishi, and Kawasaki to build the bridge. February 1979 - The construction base, homes of the workers and amenities start to be constructed. November 1979 - The places where the anchorages and piers are prepared. December 1979 - The construction of the anchorages and towers begins in Japan. June 1980 - The place where the piers will be constructed is prepared. July 1980 - The first shipment arrives with cable anchor frames and tower anchor frames. September 1980 - The construction of the cables begins in Japan. October 1980 - Concrete work for the tower base is completed. The second shipment arrives with tower panels and reinforcement for anchorages. November 1980 - Preperation for the anchorages is done. Construction of the deck girder begins in Japan. February 1981 - The first stage of installing the cable anchors is completed. March 1981 - The cable anchor frames are installed. The second stage of installing the actual frames is started. April 1981 - In Japan, the towers are completed. July 1981 - The third shipment comes, and it contained the tower top saddles and splay saddles, and the cable. The rope used for air-spinning is taken across the river.
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August 1981 - The construction of catwalks for installing the cables start. September 1981 - The catwalks are completed. October 1981 - The cable strands start to be pulled out. (There are 54 strands per cable, each with 127 wires.) November 1981 - The concrete work for the anchorages is completed, except for the final slab-work, or "gluing". The fourth shipment arrives. It has all of the side girders. January 1982 - The cable strands are completed and anchored. March 1982 - The fifth shipment arrives with half of the girders for the main roadway. May 1982 - The cable bands, hanger ropes, and deck girders are completed in Japan. June 1982 - The girders start to be erected (from the towers to the center), and the painting starts. July 1982 - The sixth shipment arrives with the rest of the girders for the road deck. September 1982 - The girders are done being erected. November 1982 - The cables are completely wrapped. December 1982 - Dismantling of the temporary supports and cranes begins, and the access roads are completed. February 1983 - The deck is fully asphalted. March 1983 - The hand railings and lighting work is completed. The roadway is fully tested. April 1983 - The cable bands are fully tightened. All of the other equipment and facilites are removed. The site is cleared, and the equipment returns to Japan. May 1983 - The bridge has an opening ceremony.
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