State Minister for Works Musa Echweru has officially launched the repair works for Karuma Bridge.
The project will be carried out by China Labour’s 7th Group in collaboration with the National Enterprise Corporation, the commercial arm of the Ministry of Defence. The repairs, costing 7 billion shillings, are aimed at extending the bridge’s lifespan by 10 to 15 years. During this period, a newer, modern bridge will be constructed.
The assessment suggests that upon completion, the repaired bridge should be able to withstand the traffic on this road for at least more than a year.
Ecweru addressed community members and local leaders from Kiryandongo, Nwoya, and Oyam districts, informing them about the progress on Karuma Bridge repairs.
“There are many contractors in the country who indicated interest to work on Karuma Bridge, but we had to subject it to critical analysis because this is not just an ordinary business but a strategic, very sensitive bridge for the country,” said Ecweru.
Ecweru said the new bridge at Karuma will be with the assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Ecweru assured the public of regular supervision to ensure quality and timely work.
Eng. Brian Boanda from the National Enterprise Corporation stated that the repair process would involve removing the asphalt layer to test the concrete’s strength. New bearings will be imported to replace the old ones. During some phases of the repair, the bridge may be completely closed to traffic.
Last week, MPs from the West Nile region expressed dissatisfaction with the delays in repairing Karuma Bridge. The bridge was closed two months ago after developing cracks that rendered it unsafe. This closure led to heavy vehicles travelling north being diverted to alternative routes, causing significant inconvenience and financial strain on transporters and other road users.