According to reports received, Karuma bridge, will be closed to all big vehicles including; lorries, trailers and buses from Monday, May 6.
The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has said in a statement that this decision is going to affecttransport but they do not have any other choice at the moment.
"Only passenger vehicles carrying up to 28 persons will be allowed to use the bridge, We anticipate that this intervention will be completed in three months"- they said.
The team of engineers UNRA sent to carry out the structural assessment identified failure as they said following condition assessment of the bridge, it had been established that some elements of its structure (the concrete deck) have deteriorated particularly on the Kampala approach lane.
The Karuma Falls Bridge was constructed in 1963 to help the cotton farmers in northern Uganda to cross the river.
In early February, commuters were surprised to drive into a caution signage indicating the closure of the bridge for "one to two hours intervals" as engineers assessed what later turned out to be structural damage.
The current state of the Karuma bridge on the Nile the main access to northern Uganda from the capital Kampala, the partial closer of this bridge by @UNRA_UG was timely. This is a typical disaster averted. the extend of the structural deterioration should be scrutinized further pic.twitter.com/gynfGOR7y8
— Pariyo Dan 🇺🇬 (@Pariyodan07) May 4, 2024
