‘We pray as we drive on it’ – Oterkpolu residents lament ‘shaky’ bridge

General News of Thursday, 13 December 2018

Source: citinewsroom.com

2018-12-13

OTERKPOLU BridgeThe bridge was constructed in the early ’80s

Residents in Oterkpolu in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern Region are calling on the government to repair the bridge that links the community to Odumase, Somanya, Asesewa and other neighbouring towns.

The narrow nature of the bridge virtually renders it a one-way road.

The bridge, which was constructed in the early ’80s, has never been renovated, leaving it with cracks that pose a danger to commuters.

In an interview with Citi News, Nene Sackite who is a resident and an opinion leader in the community said “the state of this bridge is nothing good to write home about and I am saying again that if care is not taken to address this issue it can kill thousands of people.”

Another resident who is a farmer, Francis Agorponu attributed the weakening of the bridge to the irrigation dam constructed by the government at Komokli.

“The irrigation dam constructed at Komokli is causing the breakdown of the bridge because the water way has been blocked, so the water has been stagnant under the bridge and it’s not helping.”

Some drivers who spoke to Citi News also complained bitterly about the narrow bridge and called on government and the Ministry of Roads and highways to come to their aid.

“Any time we use this bridge we say prayers in our heads as we drive on it because of the state in which the bridge is. It’s very weak and you feel it shaking when you drive on it. We are only hoping it doesn’t collapse when a vehicle is on using it because it will be disastrous.”

“We want government to take a proactive approach in handling this situation for us. We do not want the bridge to collapse injuring or killing people before authorities rush here and be setting up committees to investigate while human lives have been lost. We are pleading with them to release funds and let a contractor come to fix a new bridge which is far wider and can accommodate two vehicles at the same time,” a driver lamented.

Some market women who come to the community to trade and transact business also say the collapse of the bridge will cause hardships and increase their financial burdens.

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