Karuma bridge repairs take shape

As part of the rehabilitation efforts, UNRA’s teams have implemented several crucial steps beneath the bridge deck.

These include creating a support platform underneath the bridge to facilitate safe and effective work by the engineering team.

In addition, the teams have undertaken the re-fitting and strengthening of the steel structures that support the bridge.

Protective measures have also been applied to prevent corrosion, thereby increasing the bridge’s durability and extending its lifespan.

Moving forward, the next phase of the repair works will focus on the bridge’s surface, specifically the driving surface.

According to UNRA, this part of the bridge has shown signs of fatigue, porosity, and corrosion of the reinforcement.

These defects have led to the de-bonding of the bridge deck from its support structure. Addressing these issues will be critical to restoring the bridge to its full operational capacity.

At present, Karuma Bridge is restricted to accommodating only light traffic, such as small vehicles.

The authority says this limitation is necessary to ensure safety while repair works continue.

The repair works on the Karuma Bridge are being undertaken by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces Engineering Brigade and China Railway Seventh Group.

The government is in advanced stages of planning for the construction of a new bridge at Karuma.

The design phase is nearing completion, and the procurement of a contractor is expected to begin soon. In addition to Karuma, the government has also outlined plans to construct new bridges at other strategic locations, including Pakwach, Masindi Port, and across the River Nile at Laropi.

These developments are intended to improve regional and international transportation of goods and services, enhancing economic connectivity.

In May, UNRA announced the temporary closure of the Karuma Bridge due to structural defects, redirecting traffic through the ecologically sensitive Masindi-Paraa route via Murchison Falls National Park. The diversion was necessary to ensure safety while the repairs were underway.