‘Rehabilitate bridge over River Birim ’
The Akyem Oda Concerned Citizens Association, a pressure group, has appealed to the government to as a measure of urgency; rehabilitate the weak bridge spanning the Birim River at Oda which has become a death trap.
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The bridge which links Oda with new Abirem and Nkawkaw, is used by hundreds of commuters daily.
To that effect, the chairman of the association, Mr Kofi Nti has presented a petition to the Minister of Roads through the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Kwabena Nkansah-Asare, after he had led members of the association to inspect the deplorable nature of the bridge.
No rehabilitation
He noted with concern that the steel bridge which was constructed in the early 1950’s had not seen any major rehabilitation hence its precarious condition.
“The metallic pillars of the bridge are fast rusting with disjointed metal bars, while pot holes are also developing on the macadam,” he observed.
Mr Nti, noted that a number of heavy articulated trucks with loaded logs plied the bridge, which also serves as a route for transporting logs in and around Oda to the Western Region port of Takoradi.
He said “the situation as it is now is worrying because any further delay in rehabilitating the bridge could bring economic activities to a halt.”
Early bridges
Mr. Nti stated that the ancient structure, which was one of the first ever bridges to be built in West Africa, had become a potential victim of fatigue-related defects.
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He said the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) had embossed the bridge with a warning “weak bridge” boldly displayed on either side of its ends and had also erected two concrete pillars on each end to prevent heavy trucks from using the bridge.
Mr. Nti, however, observed that, despite the warning, articulated and timber trucks continued to drive on the bridge.
Responding, the DCE, Mr. Nkansah-Asare promised to send the petition to the Roads Minister for the necessary action.