Back Mbon Bridge Made Passable at Last, Mayor Apologises for Delay

Back Mbon Bridge Made Passable at Last, Mayor Apologises for Delay

One of the projects that's got many road users in Mbengwi frowning at the council has been the construction of the Back Mbon bridge. Studied and executed during the mandate of out gone mayor Tebe Beatrice, work went on at snail pace but was finally completed by December 2020, yet the bridge remained impassable because the two ends had to be filled with soil before cars, bikes and pedestrians could start crossing on it. 

Back Mbon Bridge Now

Back Mbon Bridge Before

Surprisingly, it was at this level that work on the bridge was abandoned. For over 7 months, nothing crossed on it because of the two unfilled ends. The population questioned and questioned what was happening to no avail. In a bit to keep moving while complaining, as a remedial measure, a temporal plank bridge was later attached nearby, an initiative of the quarter inhabitants though only for bikes and pedestrians. Incidences of riders missing track on the planks and falling into the shallow stream beneath were recurrent. The distance for cars became longer as they could only meander through Mbengbagwa or the Tendoh's to access Kobenyang and Haussa quarter. As such the transport fare charged by bike riders and drivers plying the road doubled.

Hope had been lost but recently rekindled like dry bones rising again after the population was taken aback to see see work resuming on the bridge and minutes after, it became passable at last for cars. Many couldn't believe their eyes and thought they were dreaming. Ndangsa Kennedy Akam, mayor of the Mbengwi council speaking to Rainbow Radio's Anoh Jerome on the Back Mbon Bridge project began by apologising to the beneficiary population for the stress they went through all this while due to the non filling of the two ends of the bridge. 

Temporal Remedial Measure that was Improvised by the Quarter Inhabitants

Ndangsa Kennedy Akam, Mayor, Mbengwi Council

He admitted it was like some sought of punishment considering the time work had been completed on the bridge. "It's not really been my fault. You know with the stakes in which we are living, the contractor had a lot of difficulties in penetrating into Mbengwi with a front head loader to get real gravel, that is laterite for the backfilling of the bridge. That had been the major huddle that kept that bridge standing there unused all this while." These were the words of the mayor in the interview he granted on the subject. 

He revealed that after discussing with the contractor on a way out, they resolved to do the filling manually using local labour. "The Bambe Union boys took the engagement to backfill and put the bridge into use" disclosed the apologetic mayor who reiterated that it wasn't out of his making. "I am there for you people and I've been making all efforts to see that that bridge is backfilled and put into use" he said. As to his expectations from the users, Ndangsa Kennedy wished maximum use is made of the bridge and it's sustainability guaranteed  by opening up gutters so that rain water runs into the stream and not unto the bridge. 

Back Mbon Road Leading to Kobenyang

The Bridge Stayed Like This Without Being Back Filled for Over 7 Months

He also called on the Back Mbon quarter head and the inhabitants of the quarter to organise regular community labour on the entire stretch of the road from Mile 18 to Haussa quarter, Wumfi and Kobenyang. Grass had grown wild on both sides of the road, folding it up coupled with non passage of cars. Now, the mayor expects effective usage by cars especially in transporting produce from the farms to the market, an act that will lead to the widening of the road as it was before. He ended his one on one with Anoh Jerome by appreciating the locals around the bridge for having improvised something temporal for bikes without which the situation would've been worst.

The mayor was speaking on Tuesday August 31st in the comfort of his office and by the next day, Wednesday September 1st 2021, the filling was done by the Bambe Union members. Many inhabitants have been expressing joy with the latest development on the bridge. Madam Leke Guillian, a Back Mbon quarter inhabitant express her joy in singing, that "Finally the Lord has done it finally finally ehhhh". As the back to school season approaches, pupils, students, teachers and parents will not find it difficult again accessing schools like Full Gospel Bilingual Nursery and Primary School, Back Mbon where preparations are intensifying to begin admission for the 2021/2022 academic year.

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