Authorities under the aegis of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure have commenced reconstruction work on a bridge that links Latrikunda German and Kotu following its collapse as a result of the Thursday-Friday heavy downpour.
The heavy downpour left some parts of the bridge destroyed and has since affected the free flow of traffic. Given the importance of the bridge, officials of the National Roads Authority (NRA) responded without delay to repair it.
It is against this backdrop that the minister of Transports, Works, Infrastructure and National Assembly Matters, Balla Garba Jahumpa, accompanied by the managing director of the NRA, Momodou Senghore, Tuesday visited the site.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Observer at the site, Minister Jahumpa said following the collapse of the bridge last Friday, President Jammeh gave directives for its reconstruction. He disclosed that the Office of the President will be responsible for the funding of the reconstruction of the bridge.
The Works minister reiterated that temporal works have started, adding that when completed, the bridge will be opened to motorists and pedestrians for their normal businesses. He seized the opportunity to thank the Gambian leader for his timely intervention, saying despite the fact that he is on his annual leave, he has been touring disaster hot-spots within the Greater Banjul Area.
The managing director of NRA, Momodou Senghore, explained that the work to be done at the bridge will involve the excavation of the road section that has collapsed as a result of the creation of the weep holes by the flood waters. He further explained that the concreting of the weep holes will also be carried out to prevent the re-occurrence of the seepage while laying off a layer of sand on top of the concrete will also be done.
Senghore furthered stated that the laying of compacted gravel filling on top of the sand layer will also be carried out during the course of the work. He indicated that after the completion of the temporal works that have already started, permanent work will begin immediately after the rains.
The NRA boss indicated that a 3 meter wide box culvert on both bridge approaches will be constructed to increase the capacity of the bridge. He disclosed that Gai Enterprise Company, a Gambian road construction company, will carry out all the necessary works on the bridge. Author: Momodou Faal
