The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Travel via Karuma Bridge in Kiryandongo District along the Kampala-Gulu Highway is expected to be disrupted starting Friday through the weekend as the Uganda National Roads Authority conducts quality inspections there.
This is part of the plans for the construction of another bridge.
The bridge lies along the major highway connecting the northern and southern halves of the country, as well as being the transit route between coastal ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam and the landlocked South Sudan.
The Uganda National Roads Authority says the diagnostic inspections to be conducted by a private consultant are aimed at assessing the current condition and remaining lifespan of the bridge.
“The findings will inform potential interventions to reinforce the bridge, ensuring its longevity as plans for a new bridge take shape,” said Allan Ssempebwa, Manager Public and Corporate Affairs at UNRA.
A notice to travelers shows that the road will be closed in intervals of one to two hours between 7 o’clock in the morning and 6 o’clock in the evening from Friday to Monday.
The closures of the bridge are aimed at ensuring that the consultant gathers the necessary and reliable data through conducting detailed inspections and measurements.
“This will necessitate closing part of the bridge for short periods, to allow the consultant to carry out the assessments safely,” adds Ssempebwa.
He said when it is necessary to make alternatives for travelers, adequate arrangements will be made to minimise disruptions.
“In the near future, following adequate consultations with the relevant stakeholders and to be able to undertake this critical assignment on the National Road Network, we will notify the general public on the changes in traffic flow at Karuma Bridge.”
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