Residents and commuters plying the ever busy Jalingo-Wukari federal highway connecting Benue and other parts of the country on Monday called on the Federal Government to urgently commence repair works on the broken bridges along the Jalingo-Wukari road.
The residents and motorists who lamented the hardship facing them following the collapse of bridges said its repair will avert tragedy when another heavy rain comes.
The major bridges along the road, mainly at Iware, Namnai and Bimbar have been cut off following heavy rainfalls between July and early August.
While the Federal Government awarded contract for the reconstruction of the collapsed bridge at Gongola village, the structural integrity of the other bridges in the axis has reportedly become a cause for concern.
Mr. Adamu Kasimu, a commercial driver with Taraba Express Transport Company, told our correspondent that the collapse of the bridge has seriously affected commuters who now have to spend extra hours on the road because of the diversion.
A resident of Namnai, Aminu Audu, told our correspondent that if any heavy rain falls, the road will be completely cut off; calling on the Federal Government to consider emergency repair of the failed portions in order to avert tragedy.
Our correspondent who visited the failed portions of the road on Monday reports that local youths have volunteered to assist motorists when crossing the dangerous portions of the road.
When our correspondent visited the office of the Federal Comptroller of Works in Taraba, he was told that the Comptroller had left to Abuja with the report of the road for possible intervention.
An officer who said he was not authorised to speak to the Press on the issue, however, said his boss had gone to Abuja with detailed report on the road in order to ensure quick intervention.
“We are hoping that the contractor handling the repair of the bridge at Gongola village, RIC ROCK Construction, would be directed to do emergency repair of the road, since they are on the same corridor.
“For now, motorists can manage to pass; but if we discover it’s too dangerous for motorists to use, we will direct them to follow Bali-Takum-Katsina-Ala road,” the official said.
Source: Punch
