Daniel Nyassy
13 November 2009
Nairobi — Heavy trucks carrying more than 60 tonnes load have now been banned on the Malindi-Lamu, Malindi-Hola roads.
The minister for roads Mr Franklin Bett said officials would be placed at Kanagoni to guard a bridge being built where 60 meters of the highway were swept away by floods three weeks ago.
The minister said the measure was aimed at protecting the temporary bridge being built at a cost of more than Sh 50 million connecting Mombasa and northern Kenya. He urged members of the public to report any transporters defying the ban.
"This bridge can carry a maximum of 40 tons only. But heavy trucks with loads of upto 60 tons have been using this road. This is now illegal," he said while addressing the public at Kurawa in Kanagoni after a tour of the ongoing bridge. The bridge will be officially opened for vehicles today.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, area MP who is East African Cooperation minister Amason Jeffa Kingi, MPs Gideon Mung'aro, Ali Hassan Joho, Ben Gunda, Thomas Mwadeghu, Alfred Khang'ati, Mohamed Mahamud and Josephat Nanok as well as two permanent secretaries were among those who visited the Kanagoni site on Thursday evening.
An engineer from the Kenya National Highway Authority in charge of bridges Samuel Ogege said the Kanagoni road was swept by water following environmental degradation upstream.
"Forests upstream that prevented the force of flowing water were felled leaving the gushing floods down here. We had built four culverts which were enough to hold the water force if the environment was not destroyed," he said.
He said three Buff culverts of 2.5 by 5 meters wide have now been put up. The new river will not be closed, he said.
"We brought a Bailey bridge here yesterday. On Saturday, cars started passing through a deviation. If it does not rain, we will complete the job in two weeks," he said.
He said the temporary bridge is 48 meters long with each meter costing the Government Sh 1.1 million. The entire bridge therefore costs more than Sh 50 million, he said.
"It's a very expensive facility and if we don't take good care of it, we will lose it within no time if we allow over-weight," said Eng. Ogege. He said the bridge can allow a maximum of 40 tons.
Deputy Coast PC Mr Joseph Keter urged the ministry of Roads to rebuild three bridges destroyed by El Nino rains in the Coast province.
Mr Keter said more than 16,000 people were displaced by the rains which also destroyed infrastructure in various districts.
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