–Motorcyclists Plan Stage Protest
By Henry Gboluma, Gbarpolu County Correspondent
Bopolu City.: – There is a visible death trap on Bopolu highway in a dangerous Bambuta bridge that motorists continue to use. Our Correspondent say the bridge is worn out and breaking apart.
As a result of the deteriorating condition of Bambu Town bridge on the Bopolu – Monrovia highway is again under the spotlight due to safety concerns.
The bridge received an allotment of $150,000 USD from the County Development Fund. The allotment was made during the last County Sitting, but the bridge remains life-threatening structure currently being plied by motorists.
Last year. one of the motorcyclists had fatal accident on the bridge. The motorist later died due to injuries both externally and internally.
Subsequently, minor repair work was carried out with timbers or planks last year, but situation is now even dire and dangerous again.
In their effort to draw the authorities’ attention to the impending danger they face on the bridge, motorists in the county are now planning to stage a protest.
The advisor to the Motorcyclists union in the County, Victor Morlu (a Guinean national) confirmed to our Gbarpolu County Correspondent Wednesday, February 7, 2024, that the cyclists have declared to stage a protest on Saturday, February 10, 2024, to draw stakeholders’ attention.
The bridge has been the site of fatal accidents, and the motorcyclists believe that urgent repairs are necessary to prevent further loss of life.
Note that during the 2023 elections, the Project Management Committee (PMC) and the local authorities temporarily stopped the procurement process which was soliciting a suitable contractor for the bridge project.
Though the elections are over, there are no appointments for local leaders to lead the process along with the Project Management Committee to fast-track the construction of the Bambuta bridge.