New Jinja Bridge fine- UNRA

The Uganda National Roads Authority has dispelled reports by a section of social media users claiming the newly commissioned 500-meter cable stayed Jinja Bridge is damaged.

Pictures of the bridge were shared over the weekend, with many social media users claiming the bridge tarmac was peeling off and it was developing cracks despite being commissioned only a month ago.

However, according to a statement from UNRA, the Contractor on the Source of the Nile Bridge in Jinja was conducting several tests to form a base line data for the Bridge Structural Health monitoring.

“The wearing course seen and referred to as 'bumpy' or cracked by a section of the public is a non structural attachment and therefore not a defect on the bridge,” UNRA states in a statement published yesterday.

“It's to be replaced with permanent asphalt as soon as investigation on structural behaviour is concluded and baseline data is formed. This will be done within the defect liability period before contractor leaves the site,” the statement continues.

At the moment, the Contractor has completed all the tests and has embarked on plans to start application of permanent asphalt on the bridge deck but as a contractual requirement they are preparing a trial section of asphalt on the bridge at the length of approximately 100m on both approaches of the bridge.

UNRA maintains that the process is ongoing and the exercise shall not interrupt the flow of traffic on the bridge.