The government has announced the availability of funds to finance the rehabilitation of the bridges over the Lugenda River, in the districts of Mandimba and Majune, in Niassa. These bridges were destroyed during the passage of Cyclone Freddy in March last year, threatening to interrupt road traffic with the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado.
In Mandimba, the work will include the installation of water drainage infrastructures on both sides of the road linking the towns of Lichinga and Cuamba, increasing the discharge capacity in the south/north direction. In the Majune district, the repair will require a contractor with proven technical capacity, due to the complexity of the work. One of the bridge decks has been displaced by around half a meter in relation to other components of the same structure, requiring specific techniques and equipment to replace it. The support pillars will also be reinforced to guarantee the safety of the infrastructure and vehicle traffic.
In addition, the approximately one-kilometer stretch of National Road Number 13 (N13), affected by the floods, is also in the process of being rehabilitated. The contractor responsible will be known by the end of next month.
The heavy rains in the northern region of Niassa have caused erosion and degradation on the roadsides and platforms, making some 33 kilometers impassable. Local contractors have been mobilized to repair the damage caused by the rains, especially in the districts of Lago, Maúa, Cuamba, Mecanhelas and Mavago, which have been battered since the beginning of the year.
The tender to select the contractor to carry out the work to rehabilitate the bridges has the financial support of the government, with the participation of the World Bank. The process is underway and will be careful to ensure that the work can be carried out to the required quality.
