The Moroto – Nakapiripirit road has finally re-opened, three months after it was cut off following the torrential rains that washed away Lorengedwat Bridge in Nakapiripirit district.
Lorengedwat is the main bridge that connects the two districts.
Dan Alinange, the Corporate Communications Manager Uganda National Road Authority – UNRA says they fixed an emergency bridge to re-connect the road.
He says although the work has not been completed, the road was re-opened for traffic on Monday and heavy trucks are now able to pass through.
Alinange said they are finishing up with the work on the bridge with the fixing of the gut rail and load limitation scale before officially commissioning it early next month.
Travelers especially the businessmen had decried the delay in the work on the bridge, which they said was costing them a lot since it was the shortest route to Mbale where they do their major shopping.
After the bridge was washed away in July, travelers from Moroto were accessing Mbale and Nakapiripirit districts through Soroti and Kumi which distance almost doubles that from Moroto to Mbale through Nakapiripirit.
Alinange says the government’s long term plan is to fix a modern and permanent bridge at the site once work of laying the tarmac on the road starts next year.
Government in August postponed the planned construction of Moroto – Nakapiripirit road to the next financial year because of lack of funds. The work on the road that is estimated to cost shillings 60 billion was scheduled to start in July 2011.
