New Jinja bridge behind schedule, says minister
Prof Jackson A.Mwakali, the deputy resident engineer, and Mr John Byabagambi, the Minister for Works and Transport, inspect some of the machines used in the construction of the new bridge in Jinja on Tuesday. photo by DENIS EDEMA
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Contractors found it hard to get recommended standard building materials.
JINJA- Works and Transport Minister John Byabagambi has said construction work on the new bridge across the River Nile in Jinja is six months behind schedule.
“I have been informed by the contractors that work on the bridge is behind
schedule by six months, but now that the problem has been fixed, I expect smooth working and I will be visiting the site to see how the construction is progressing,” he said.
Mr Byabagambi, who did not reveal the cause of the delays, made the revelation on Tuesday while on a tour of the construction sites in Jinja and Njeru.
Applause
However, the minister, who was accompanied by officials from the Uganda National Roads Authority, commended the contractors Zenitaka-Hyundai Joint Venture, for being highly knowledgeable and employing some of the best technology on the market.
The deputy resident engineer, Prof Jackson Mwakali, however, said the contractors are faced with some challenges, the biggest being hardship in finding recommended standard building materials.
This, Prof Mwakali said, is partly responsible for delays in work on the project.
“This is not an ordinary bridge in Africa. Not all the materials available can be used on it because of the high standards required,” he said.
Prof Mwakali said besides the actual construction work, the contractors ensure that water from their site is cleaned up before being discharged into the river.
“We also protect the environment by purifying the water we have used before emptying it into the river to avoid contamination of the water and poisoning the fish,” he said.
The communications Officer of UNRA, Mr Dan Alinanage, called on the media to pay regular visits to the construction site in order to keep the public updated on the work.
The 525-metre cable stayed bridge with a main span of 290 metres and a dual carriage way, which is part of the Kampala Express Highway, is to cost Shs391b. It was initially expected to be ready by April 2018.
