Engineers
say
some
bridges
had
become
partially
blocked
by
sand
deposits
following
heavy
rains,
reducing
the
capacity
of
waterways
beneath
the
structures
and
raising
concerns
about
flooding
and
road
safety.
The
work
was
highlighted
during
a
media
tour
of
infrastructure
projects
in
the
province
on
Thursday
led
by
the
Minister
of
Transport
and
Infrastructural
Development,
Felix
Mhona.
Provincial
Roads
Engineer
Mangisi
Nkomo
said
inspections
found
that
sand
had
completely
filled
the
waterway
of
at
least
one
bridge.
“Our
bridge
up
to
depth
level
is
around
1.8
metres,
and
the
entire
1.8
metres
waterway
has
been
covered
by
sand,”
he
said.
“So
we
prescribed
that
the
contractor
do
desiltation.”
Eng
Nkomo
said
engineers
had
initially
considered
installing
culvert
pipes
on
top
of
the
bridge
as
a
temporary
measure
to
improve
water
flow,
but
the
plan
was
abandoned
because
of
the
current
rainy
season.
“We
actually
had
two
interventions
which
we
had
proposed,
that
is
putting
some
culvert
pipes
on
top
of
the
bridge,
but
because
we
are
going
through
a
wet
season
we
cannot
put
a
detour,
so
we
resorted
to
desilting,”
he
said.
Under
the
current
plan,
contractors
will
remove
sand
up
to
100
metres
on
either
side
of
the
bridge
and
across
a
40-metre
width
of
the
river
in
an
effort
to
reopen
the
waterway.
Officials
say
the
move
is
intended
to
reduce
the
risk
of
flooding
and
protect
the
structure
from
possible
damage.
The
Minister
of
Local
Government
and
Public
Works,
Daniel
Garwe,
also
raised
safety
concerns
about
some
of
the
bridges
in
the
area,
noting
that
several
were
narrow.
“It
will
be
necessary
to
put
some
sign
posts
because
some
of
the
bridges
are
very
narrow.
There
are
certain
things
that
we
can’t
change
when
it’s
too
late,”
he
said.
Eng
Nkomo
said
authorities
would
ensure
adequate
signage
was
installed
to
warn
motorists
and
improve
safety
along
the
route.
The
desilting
exercise
forms
part
of
wider
infrastructure
works
in
the
Maphisa
area
as
the
government
prepares
to
host
this
year’s
national
Independence
Day
commemorations
there,
with
officials
focusing
on
ensuring
roads
and
related
infrastructure
remain
usable
for
visitors
and
residents
expected
to
attend
the
celebrations.