VEHICLE owners in North West Guadalcanal are raising the alarm over the deteriorating state of the Kesao Bridge, urging responsible authorities to ensure immediate repair works to avert potential accidents.
The concerned vehicle owners describe the bridge as a high-risk, particularly for those transporting heavy loads.
Elder Luteru Kunuku, a long-time resident of the Kesao community, said the bridge has been around for a long time, having being built by the Americans during World War II.
The main bridge frame is made of iron, but with timber slabs or lumbers nailed in the longitudinal direction of the bridge. The lumber attached in this manner, not only makes up the primary superstructure of the bridge, but also the deck.
The average lifespan for such timber slab structure varies, but a lot of them depend on the type of timber used, and the structural integrity of the iron frame.
Mr Kunuku said the bridge timber slab has deteriorated so badly that its nails are now exposed and the actual iron frame full of rust, creating fear and risk for the vehicles that carry heavy load.
He said vehicle users have had to limit the number of their passengers and the quantity of their cargoes before crossing the bridge, fearing the possibility of the timber slab caving in.
“The bridge has served us well over the years, but its condition now poses a serious threat to our safety,” Mr Kunuku stated.
“The timber slabs are so worn that nails are visible and the iron frame is riddled with rust. It is frightening to think about what might happen if a heavily laden vehicle crosses it.
“The bridge is very old resulting from rotting timers and rusty materials, vehicles with heavy load are clearly at risk when crossing the bridge.
“People of North and West Guadalcanal have good reasons to be worried, the bridge connects our communities to Honiara, where they transport their agricultural goods for sale in Honiara,” Mr Kunuku said.
“There are a high number of farmers in our area, mainly in cocoa and copra who can and do contribute to the economy of the county. But such poor infrastructure has affected their output,” he added.
Mr Kunuku said they made many calls through the media in the past about the bridge, but the responsible authority tends to ignore them.
“We need urgent action to fix this bridge before it collapses. It is a vital link for our community. Without it, our livelihoods are at risk,” he added.
By JIMMY NOLAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
