YARPAH TOWN, River Cess—Over the course of Tuesday night, the Timbo River Bridge that separates Grand Bassa and River Cess became so badly damaged that it is now unusable by vehicles.
There were no deaths or injuries and authorities do not yet know the exact cause of the damage to the bridge. Bystanders, however, were quick to point fingers at the large logging trucks that travel along the route, carrying timber from River Cess to westward ports.
Passengers are now paying double transportation fares as they will have to drop on one side of the bridge to cross to the other side to board another car to end their journey.
The only alternate route for travelers heading towards Buchanan from Cestos is the LAC Road from through Monweh, in Upper River Cess. That route, however, takes 10-12 hours, a significant increase compared to the usual two-hour journey from Cestos to Buchanan under normal conditions.
County Inspector Trokon Browne said he had informed both the superintendent and assistant superintendent for development about the situation.
“I have informed the superintendent and development superintendent about it,” Browne said. “But both of them are not in the county.”
Richard Wisseh, an elder and former district commissioner who lives near the bridge, told The Bush Chicken that the bridge has outlived its life.
“This bridge was constructed in 1972 and was open to the public in 1976,” Wisseh said. “During the opening of the bridge in 1976, the public was informed that it was 25-year guarantee.”
With five more days left to the exhibition of the voter registration roll, some observers fear that if the bridge is not soon repaired, the process might be delayed in the southeastern region.
This is the third time in six years that the bridge over the Timbo River between Grand Bassa and River Cess has become too damaged for vehicle use.
During the voter registration exercise of 2011, the bridge collapsed and one person died while several were wounded.
Two years later, the bridge collapsed again leaving no casualties this time.
The Timbo River serves as a boundary between River Cess and Grand Bassa.
Featured photo by Eric Doue