By Taban Henry
Users of the newly constructed 2-way lane and 560 metres wide Freedom Bridge will be following a strict laws and directives to use the bridge, government official had said.
The government of the Republic of South Sudan confirmed that it is going to set strict rules to manage transport along the newly built Freedom Bridge.
On Tuesday, Vice President for Physical Infrastructure Taban Deng Gai along with the Minister of Roads and Bridges, Simon Mijak Mijok paid a visit to the bridge ahead of the official ground opening by the President of the Republic, Salva Kiir Mayardit on 19th of May 2022.
Minister of Roads and Bridges, Simon Mijak Mijok told reporters that the bridge will give another challenge especially in-terms of cleaning the bridge which has not started moving, but as dust can still be seen and there is need for it to be managed on a daily basis.
“We are going to apply the East African standard of load that is 46 tones and not more than that because it was different with the old bridge which loaded over 96 tones up to 100 tones,” the Minister said.
“We also have the plan of putting lights along the bridge and also to discuss with our colleagues in the ministry of energy on how to pass the cables from the Eastern side to the Western side of the bridge because that provision was not included in the contract,” he continued.
Mr. Mijak told the media that the aim of their visit was to see the preparation and challenges faced with the bridge.
The Minister said that the bridge has 560 meters and a 2-way lane whose construction was donated as a grant by the government and the people of Japan to the people and the government of the South Sudan will have some guides.
He stressed that, they have explained to Vice President, the challenges facing the management of the bridge including fixing of the weight bridge which is very urgent to save important investment.
“We are now doing the access roads leading to the bridge. I understand that the government of Japan is adding for us another 20 million US Dollars, so that the construction of Lologo bypass including four bridges connecting this facility to the main town and also to other roads passing through Juba to Yei, Mundri towards Western Equatoria as well as roads heading towards Terekeka to Lakes State is done,” he added.
Mijak mentioned that they will discuss the other challenges with the governor of Central Equatoria State especially issues to do with land acquisition which need to be sorted out to secure and manage the bridge.
He further stated that the bridge is a concrete bridge; “we are assured by the Japanese that this bridge is more durable than the asphalt,” he said.