Bridge needs attention

THE footbridge over Baiune River in Bulolo, Morobe, was constructed in January this year, opened for use in February and washed away in September.
It took less than eight months for people to use.
The project was funded by the Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu’s office in response to the need for a safer and reliable link for students, teachers and parents using Baiune elementary, primary and high School, who unfortunately would be affected again.
The frustrating thing is that repeated calls were made throughout this year to the respective authorities including Saonu’s office to recall the contractor who built the footbridge without constructing flood barricades.
The contractor had anchored the bridge onto a sandbank without proper vertical support into solid subsoil or rock foundation which is a vital consideration in any overhanging infrastructure.
In the end, tax payers’ money has gone to waste and thousands are affected again by the same issue which the footbridge was intended to solve.
This is another wake up call for relevant authorities to engage contractors with capacity and technical expertise and not jobs for the boys.

Frustrated Parent, Bulolo