By Kelety Alie Bockarie
In the wake of the collapse of the of the Mathehun Bridge along the Makeni – Kamakwei Road, on the 10 of July 2024, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRSA) has confirmed, in a press release issued on 11 July, 2024, that the maintenance proposal that was prepared to publicly tender the work has now changed their scope from maintenance to reconstruction of the said bridge.
As a way to make the movement of the general public possible, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority assured the public that they are putting modalities in place for the eventual construction of the bridge. Meanwhile, the SLRA has also informed the general public of its commitment to providing an alternative passage in order to enhance the temporal movement of commuters.
“We wish to inform the general public that we are currently working on providing an alternative passage by the bridge to open up the route to traffic as a temporary fix,” said the management.
The SLRA further assured that they are mobilizing and engaging their partners in ensuring that they expedite the work on the alternative passage which is to commence within 24 hours.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Sierra Leone, has on the 11th July 2024, issued a press release urging the public especially travellers of this road to exercise caution and to follow the instructions provided by local authorities and road construction personnel.
The management of SLRA advised commuters using light vehicles that are going to and from Kamakwei to be tentatively using the Kalangba-Lehondi Gbendembu Road as a temporal route.
