Mozambique’s National Road Administration evaluates its metal bridges due to damage caused by overloaded trucks, notably timber transport. Replacing damaged bridges incurs costs of around 200 million meticais for each 80 meters. Flooding this season has worsened bridge conditions and road traffic. Overloading primarily affects Maputo, Nampula, and Cabo Delgado, reducing road surface life by approximately 40% and increasing maintenance needs.
The National Road Administration (ANE) is conducting a nationwide technical evaluation of metal bridges in Mozambique, which are under strain from overloaded trucks. Specifically, trucks transporting timber contribute significantly to structural damage and accidents, primarily in the central and northern regions of the country. This situation hinders critical road maintenance and upgrades due to the necessity of replacing damaged bridges often.
Rubina Noormohamed, ANE’s director of Central Maintenance and Road Safety Services, noted that infrastructure replacement costs approximately 200 million meticais for each 80-meter bridge. Frequent accidents also necessitate traffic interruptions, isolating communities when roads are blocked. As a result, Noormohamed urged drivers to adhere to load limits to ensure the integrity of the bridges and the overall safety of transit in Mozambique.
During the current rainy season, excessive flooding has damaged eight bridges, four drifts, and six pontoons, further disrupting traffic flow. Moreover, the principal transport corridors experience extreme strain from overloading, predominantly imposed by untrained hauliers, significantly decreasing the life span of road surfaces. In provinces like Maputo, Nampula, and Cabo Delgado, such practices reduce pavement durability by approximately 40%, leading to escalating maintenance expenses.
The ANE’s assessment highlights the issues facing Mozambique’s metal bridges due to overloading, especially by hauliers ignoring weight limits. This not only threatens bridge structural integrity but also strains the country’s road maintenance budgets, with flooding further exacerbating these issues. Continued advocacy for strict adherence to load limits by drivers is essential for preserving infrastructure and ensuring the safety of road transport in the region.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
