The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development, Vincent Mwale, has announced the temporary closure of the Luangwa South Bound Bridge crossing the Kafue River along the T3 Road in Kitwe on the Copperbelt.
According to the statement released to the media, the closure is due to the high water levels being experienced in the Kafue river which threatens the structural integrity of the bridge.
The bridge is planned for critical repairs and awaits funding for rehabilitation works to commence.
“I therefore direct the Road Development Agency (RDA) to continue monitoring the bridge until safety risks are determined to be within acceptable limits,” said the Minister
The Country is currently receiving above-normal rainfall in some parts of the Copperbelt Province and North-Western Provinces which has led to the Kafue river and its tributaries to flow at full capacity.
The statement concluded by regretting the inconvenience caused by the closure and that the public will be kept informed when circumstances improve.
Which bridge is this, by the police check point, as you are going to Ndola or Luanshya or what???….quite confusing…in Zambia everything has become nonsense including the reporting….. Reporting is about making people understand not to leave them guessing of what it could be…rubbish!
near the former check point, the situation is bad
@Shaa You are so right. Is this bridge on the dual carriageway? If it is over the Kafue River why is it called Luangwa bridge? And this: the temporary closure of the Luangwa South Bound Bridge crossing the Kafue River along the T3 Road in Kitwe on the Copperbelt. Yangu too much information. Elyo ba blogger bambi just because you are familiar with it and can recognise the bridge from the picture doesnt mean everybody else does. I have never been to the copperbelt since I was born in Kabompo I have only been to Kalabo.
“Luangwa south bound bridge” on T3 road……eeeeish! Ba-LT what nonsense is this?
“Luangwa south bound bridge” on T3 road……eeeeish! Ba-LT what nonsense is this? Why can’t you simply say the “Ndola -Kitwe” dual carriage way has been closed at the kafue river bridge……blablablabla……
Gon’ga bridge,
gon’ga government.
Clearly very poor workmanship just to cut costs. A bridge should be constructed several metres above historical high level of water level.
Just the picture itself can tell, this is the problem we have sure even the bridge you want to create stories.When you are going to Ndola from kitwe you look at the road signage,T3 road mmmmm be observant dady ba Shaa and just the picture itself tells a story of which bridge is this. This is the main bridge as you enter kitwe from Ndola or Luanshya, the one near Luangwa T/ship mmmmmmmmmm.
thankyou for the clarity.These reporters left us hanging.
Yayi bata just because you are familiar with it and can recognise the bridge from the picture doesnt mean everybody else does. I have never been to the copperbelt since I was born in Kabompo I have only been to Kalabo.
Sontapo epo wawombw
The minister is putting lives first unlike the blood thirsty opposition. If he left the bridge open and people die the same monkeys in opposition will blame pf. You can’t win with these jokers
@ Kaiser Zulu, you call others monkeys? That makes you a complete psychopath devoid of morals!
Shut up already!
When on has little capacity to debate they resort to insulting typical of KZ kind of people.
Sonta epo balufyanya
MEANWHILE ZESCO JOKERS SAY KARIBA DAM NEEDS SIMILAR RAINS FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS.
OF COURSE TO JUSTIFY THE RIDICULOUS TARRIFFS WHICH MASK THEIR INCOMPETENCE.
IN REALITY TARRIFFS WERE INCREASED TO MAINTAIN CASH INFLOWS DURING THE LOAD SHEDDING.PERIOD.WE ARE NOT THAT DULL
But we have had similar flooding experiences in England, local authorities have had to close some roads and bridges for the safety of members of the public till water levels returned to acceptable levels.
Our criticisms must be reasonable to be taken seriously.
But Zesco will still say Kariba dam is almost empty
All the money we pay for road tolls was supposed to make way for improved drainage systems along this river to avoid such incidents. But instead be very expensive luxury SUVs and abnormal salaries for govt VIPs that includes even opposition MPs. We can never develop no matter who is in govt whether it’s UPND tomorrow or whoever if we continue to have such a selfish mindset., now look what has happened. Is that govt luxury SUV going to ferry people across the river?
Money from toll gates stolen. Bridges collapsing under their dirty noses.
Disaster!!!!
The bridge has not collapsed.
1.Can us Zambians believe that we expect Loadsheding with such water level for the first time. 2.Which route can people use when going to and from Ndola.
Exactly my question
Ba EIZ njebeniko. Does a bridge become dangerous because the water levels below it have risen or because it has been carrying too much load or has aged?
High water levels increase pressure on the piers as well as erosion around the piers and embankments; increased loading on the deck, if this is over and above what the structure was designed to carry, can lead to failure of the decking; a combination of these increased loads coupled with a lack of maintenance can lead to failure of the bridge structure…
Kitwe’s South Bound Road over Kafue River Temporary closed. Kitwe or copperbelt? Ndola or Luanshya?
So Where is Kariba taking the Water