<prompt> Translate the following text to EnglishDaraja hilo lilikuwa kituo kikuu cha mawasiliano kati ya bandari na jiji, na pia lilikuwa mahali pa mapigano makubwa dhidi ya wavamizi wa Ulaya.  <response>: Spanning the river, the bridge was once the towns main strategic link between port and city and the site of major battles against the European invaders. 