HARBEL, Firestone – To limit further damage to roads and preserve the integrity of other bridges within it production area, the management of Firestone Liberia said it has closed its roads to non-company trucks exceeding five axles.

The measure comes in the wake of the recent collapse of the Du River Bridge. The bridge, located on the Harbel to 15 Gate route, collapsed under the weight of an excessively overloaded truck carrying crushed rocks for construction projects at the Roberts International Airport.

The management said because of the bridge’s collapse, the company has been constrained to redirect traffic through the center of it production area, resulting in an increase in travel time to reach the Du Side Medical Hospital.

Firestone also confirmed that since the beginning of construction projects at the airport, the Harbel to 15 Gate road has seen extensive damage due to overloaded trucks not owned by Firestone traveling along the route.

The collapse of the Du River Bridge is negatively affecting the commute of Harbel residents and those of surrounding communities. Residents struggle to travel across the river and police and court authorities say they now find it difficult to travel to the Bondiway Magisterial Court and Prison Center, adding that it now requires much more funds to transport detainees from the local police depot to the prison cell.

The press release from Firestone did not state when reconstruction of the bridge would begin but it said the company is working closely with the Liberian government, the owner of the overloaded truck that was on the bridge when it collapsed, and contractors working on projects at the airport to reach a solution.

Featured photo by Jefferson Daryoue