TRANSPORT between Morogoro and Dodoma City that was temporarily paralyzed as a result of heavy downpour damaging Mkange Bridge at Kiegeya village in Kilosa District, was yesterday expected to be restored after the government resumed serious work at the site.
The Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Engineer Isack Kamwelwe briefing reporters and stranded passengers at the site yesterday, expressed optimism that transport would be resumed on the day in the evening hours.
Accompanied by his Deputy, Elias Kwandikwa and Morogoro Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Loatha Ole Sanare, the minister said that by afternoon hours, engineers had already mobilised resources with which to construct the damaged bridge.
“The assignments proceed well and we expect to complete it as soon as the culverts arrive. The culverts will enable us to finalize the task by connecting the two sides of the bridge.
The sooner the culverts arrive the sooner we are done with the reconstruction,” Kwandikwa said.
However, he stressed that still some should keep on using the alternative routes of Dodoma-Mtera-Iringa to return to Morogoro and those from Mwanza go through Singida-Babati-Arusha-Moshi- Korogwe to reach Dar es Salaam and other places.
To ensure that the service is well offered to road users, the Morogoro Regional Commissioner (RC), Loatha Sanare said traffic police would be stationed at Dumila and Gairo to direct drivers to use the alternative routes for their safety.
“We have stationed traffic police to assist drivers who opt for alternative routes to avoid unnecessary traffic jams.
We are thankful that drivers have understood us and are cooperating well,” added the RC. In reaction to the damage bridge, the Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Engineer Elias Kwandikwa told journalist that his ministry is looking forward to building a new bridge there with funds from the next budget.
Earlier before the construction work begun on Monday, the villagers were collecting stones, sand, rubble to interweave with metal bars as temporary bridges while waiting for the government intervention.
The collapse of the bridge took a big toll on transport and several human activities, which rely on it as a passage to other destinations.
