A worker at the construction site of Oda bridge in Garsen, Tana River County. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
Work on the Sh200 million two-lane steel bridge across Tana River has been suspended following heavy floods.
The bridge is meant to facilitate trade and address cases of crocodile attacks on residents.
Construction works at Bura Kofira in Garsen constituency started in 2016 but were halted last week following floods sweeping across the region due to heavy rains.
The project’s contractor, Tunasco Insaat, said through its chief executive officer Abdulkadir Mohamed Omar that the company’s engineers and technical staff had to abandon work because of rising river water levels amid fears of crocodile attacks.
“One of the challenges we have been facing is the unpredictable rise and fall of water levels hence making it sometime difficult to plan but the under water works are now complete and what remains is easily manageable,” Omar said as quoted by Business Daily.
He said construction will resume the moment water levels subside facilitation continuation of building works. The project is expected to be completed in August.
“The concrete structure is constructed above the levels and the steel is ready for assembling as it has already been fabricated. All we need is for the water to subside a little for us to move some of the equipment and once we are done with the middle concrete works then we are all good to complete the project,” he added.
The project is one among five flagship projects by Tana River Governor Hussein Dado’s administration meant to open up development in the county.
It is projected to increase the movement of agricultural produce to markets and facilitate trade.