Inhabitants of Bamenda III subdivision and some road users have expressed dissatisfaction and growing fears concerning the condition of the Mile 4 bridge with the intensification of the rainy season.
The bridge which links Mile 3 to Mile 4 Nkwen is known for overflowing during heavy rains causing a halt in traffic on the road which also links Bamenda to Ngoketunjia, Boyo, Donga-Mantung and Bui divisions.
According to some business persons around the area, they are traumatized each time it rains because they already know that at anytime they may be forced to lock up their business premises.
“I’m always ready each time it is raining my eyes have to be on the bridge and when I see that it has overflown I just asked customers to leave and I close. It is a very difficult situation. We have been looking up to the council for more than 5 years but they’re unable to resolve the situation,” a lady who sells food around the bridge recounts.
Meanwhile some drivers plying the road have regretted that at times they are bound to spend about 3 hours on the spot, waiting for downpour to reduce before vehicles can cross over the bridge.
The situation usually causes uneasy traffic along the highway because there is no other road which can be used.
During one of the annual meetings organised by the Bamenda III council held in April, Mayor Fongu Cletus revealed that the council can not construct the bridge because it is on a national road. He added that they have played their part by cleaning up the drainage with an excavator, while waiting on the government to solve the problem completely.
“It is true that the issue of floods is really serious, especially the Mile 4 bridge and other areas. We have struggled at our own local level, which has greatly reduced the floods, but we are still calling on the government and other development partners to help us construct the bridge so that the area will be safe and void of floods,” Mayor Fongu said.
The situation has also been blamed on the improper disposal of waste by locals living around the bridge, which blocks the water way causing overflow each time it pours.
Source: Cameroon News Agency