Accident on Bambu Town Bridge Raises Concerns about Delay in Bridge Construction

By: Henry B. Gboluma, Jr.|Gbarpolu County Correspondent

Bambu Town, Gbarpolu-Friday, May 30, 2025-The deteriorating condition of the Bambu Town Bridge in Gbarpolu County has once again sparked urgent calls for action following yet another motorcycle accident on the bridge.

The incident, which resulted in a rider falling but avoiding serious injuries, has highlighted the ongoing danger posed by the aging infrastructure and the lack of prompt intervention.

A former Commissioner of Bopolu District, Joseph McCay, reignited the discussion by posting a situation report on Facebook, describing the accident and criticizing local officials for ignoring the risks.

“The Bambu Town Bridge again this evening May 28, 2025 was the scene of another motorcycle accident,” McCay wrote, emphasizing that no serious harm was reported but warning of the danger the bridge continues to pose to pedestrians and motorists alike.

He questioned, “Gbarpolu County, where do we stand on this?”

In response to the repeated incidents and public outcry, a member of the County Council, Ansu Mandingo Sheriff, called for urgent construction of the bridge, urging stakeholders to put aside political differences and prioritize citizen safety.

“There is a need to construct this bridge urgently,” Sheriff said.

Meanwhile, others have voiced their frustrations on the said post, with many advocating for concrete and durable solutions.

Mark Jones, for example, insisted that the bridge should be rebuilt with concrete to prevent future issues, criticizing the involvement of multiple companies that he claims are diverting resources from the county.

Despite promises from the government through the intervention of Senators Botoe Kanneh and Amara Konneh, including statements from Public Works Minister Roland L. Giddings about relocating iron plates from Dorcusta Bridge to aid in the rehabilitation, the bridge remains in a dangerous state, threatening movement and safety.

Subsequently, adding to the mounting pressure, the District #1 Representative, Zinnah Norman, wrote to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and colleagues, raising concerns over the delay in implementing a resolution to construct the bridge.

The delegates had previously approved $150,000 USD during the 2023 County Sitting for the bridge’s reconstruction, but the project remains stalled.

In a bid to clarify the situation, Representative Norman has invited Superintendent Sam K. Zinnah to a plenary session to explain the reasons for his non-compliance with the project’s implementation plan.

The move the Lawmaker says is aimed to hold the superintendent accountable and ensure immediate steps are taken to commence construction.

As several persons continue to call for urgent action, the involvement of the District Representative and the Commissioner signals a collective push for accountability and swift progress.

However, will this renewed scrutiny finally spur tangible efforts to rebuild the Bambu Town Bridge before further tragedies occur? Well, only time will tell.

Stay tuned for more updates on this critical Gbarpolu development issue as this is an ongoing story.

Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief