Nyabugogo bridge state worries passengers

{Nyabugogo Bridge connects different districts including Nyarugenge and Gasabo districts in Kigali city. It has several potholes creating traffic jam. Accidents often take place at Nyabugogo Bridge, as users attest. Drivers request involved parties to intervene before the situation gets worse.
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“The bridge shakes as cars cross it putting the lives of passengers in danger. The bridge may collapse in if nothing is done to fix the bridge which is in a critical situation, “narrates one of the passengers.

Potholes at Nyabugogo Bridge were firstly realized in 2014 and got expanded over time as users told IGIHE.

“It is two years since these potholes appeared on the bridge. .There is always traffic jam at the bridge frustrating passengers. The bridge evokes fear among passengers as the bridge continues to shake while cars drive over the bridge in traffic jam. They believe the bridge is going to collapse “said Kamuzinzi Kasim, a driver of public transport buses.

Uwamahoro Marie Rose, a user of the bridge living by its sides in the locality popularly known as ‘Kiderenka’ said that cars hit passengers at the bridge almost every day.

“Every day, a person is hit at the bridge, there occur thick the traffic jam , motorbikes and bicycles. I have most of the time seen bicycle riders being hit.” The president of Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), Guy Kalisa has told IGIHE that potholes at Nyabugogo Bridge are known and promised renovation of the dilapidated bridge.

“We already know the case of such potholes on the bridge of Nyabugogo. We plan to renovate them in the 2016/2017 fiscal year. Nyabugogo Bridge is strong enough that it can’t callapse,” he said.

Kalisa said they are now renovating collapsed bridges including Rwabusoro Bridge connecting Nyanza and Bugesera districts which caved in 2014. Gashora Bridge is also under renovation and expected to be completed in September, 2016.