A bridge linking Tinguri and Gbani communities on the Walewale-Nalerigu Road, damaged by rains, is still in a hazardous state.
The bridge has remained unrepaired after temporary measures that involved filling portions with sand and creating an alternative route connecting the two communities.
Residents and commuters, who ply the road, have raised concerns of danger calling for immediate work to repair the collapsed parts of the bridge.
The bridge, which was destroyed by a downpour in August last year, is still used by some commuters in its dilapidated state while others use the alternative route which takes a relatively longer time.
The bridge links surrounding communities to Nalerigu, the administrative capital of the North East Region.
As the rainy season begins, residents are worried about the state of the bridge, which they fear has turned into a death trap, especially when it rains.
The Assemblyman for the Tinguri Electoral Area, Yidana Iddrissu Bugzuah informed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the bridge repair work had been delayed despite being assigned to a contractor who had arrived at the site. He explained that the construction of a gutter on a different road, which links Gbani to Kparigu, has obstructed the repair process.
He mentioned that the gutter construction was being handled by a different contractor, and added that work on the Tinguri-Gbani Bridge could not proceed simultaneously.
The Assembly man said “Another issue stalling the process is that the contractor has applied for a meter at Volta River Authority (VRA) to be able to use a machine to bend the rod. VRA has not been quick on this because the contractor has been told that letter for the meter has been sent to Bolga."
He mentioned that although the road was usable, heavy rainfall could wash off the sand and gravels poured around the remains of the bridge, adding the alternative route would be the only option in that case.
Probing further, the GNA found that no work had begun on the site since the incident happened in August last year.
Residents, who spoke to the GNA, said they had not spotted the contractor on site for a long time.
Credit: GNA