Juba, South Sudan
November 8,2021—South Sudan’s Minister of Roads and Bridges disclosed that one lane of the Juba Bridge will officially be re-opened within three weeks after its closure for reconstruction.
In April last year, the construction company, Rhino Star completed the renovation of parts of the bridge after some of the super-structures holding the bridge could not hold heavy trucks or live loads.
An engineer, Kenyatta Warille, said last may that the condition of the bridge had deteriorated over time and that the inbound lane needed serious work.
Speaking to the press after the council of ministers’ meeting, the information Minister and government Spokesman Michael Makuei said the minister of Roads and Bridges Simon Majok said the bridge will officially open after 21 days but on the other hand, the government has not paid the construction company any amount.
“He [minister of roads and bridges] stated that as of now they are left with 17 days to finish the process so they are saying the bridge will be officially opened within three weeks from now,” information Minister Michael Makuei said on Friday after the council of ministers press briefing.
The Juba Bridge was constructed in 1972 during the reign of Jafar Nimeri and it has been renovated in 2008. It connects the Republic of South Sudan to the east African region from which South Sudan imports most of its products.
The Juba Bridge remains as the only bridge across the Nile in South Sudan at least until the construction of the Freedom Bridge finishes.
South Sudan is naturally rich with abundant resources but despite only few states are connected with tarmac roads and bridges leaving a high number of fatal accidents across the country.
