Government through Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has constructed a temporary 100 meters steel bridge at Katonga along the Kampala-Masaka Highway as traffic is expected to pick during the charismas festive season .
Vehicles including heavy trucks are now allowed to use the bridge which was washed away when the river burst its banks .
Eng. Samuel Muhoozi, the Director of Roads and Bridge Development at the Uganda National Roads Authority – UNRA, said that the temporary bridge is designed to carry loads not exceeding 60 tonnes at any given time.
Severe floods in May this year washed away the bridge that led to the closure of the busy highway causing substantial difficulties in travel to western Uganda, disrupted trade, and commerce.
Motorists were forced to use the long Mpigi-Butambala-Ssembabule routes increasing transport and food costs.
Recently the Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala said that government has designed a new strong bridge that is going to be constructed at Katonga. China Communications Construction Company – CCC Ltd has since been contracted to construct a temporary steel bridge at Katonga River.
Eng. Muhoozi stated that the reconstruction of the Katonga Bridge will last two years.
