IPNEWS: What could have been a national disaster leading to the deaths of several citizens occurred in a miraculous manner when the Cestos River ITI Bridge collapsed early on Monday, December 30, 2024, with no casualties reported from the scaring scene.
The collapse of the bridge came barely a month after it had undergone extensive repairs by the Ministry of Public Works Bridge Unit.
According to a press release, the ministry said it was grateful that no lives were lost in the incident but remains deeply troubled by this unfortunate development.
Earlier in November, the Cestos River Bridge faced severe over-flooding and unusual vibrations, raising concerns about its structural integrity and prompting the Ministry to intervene.
In response, the Bridge Unit promptly decommissioned the bridge and conducted repairs ahead of schedule.
The release said that the damaged components were replaced, and the structure underwent a thorough inspection by the Ministry before being deemed fit for relaunch.
As part of the Ministry’s commitment to public safety, it convened a conference with community stakeholders, including representatives of the Joint Security, to ensure adherence to the bridge’s load capacity regulations.
During the conference, the Minister emphasized that the ITI Bridge could accommodate a maximum load of 25 tons.
Furthermore, this includes the weight of a truck (typically 15 tons) and an additional 10 tons of cargo. The Joint Security, led by Commander Eric Zor, was tasked with enforcing these weight limits to safeguard the bridge against overloading.
However, the ministry said it was greatly disappointment by the collapse of the bridge due to the passage of a load-bed carrying an excavator—an act that flagrantly violated the established tonnage regulations
The Ministry also regrets to note that despite prior assurances from the Commander regarding the Joint Security’s vigilance, this incident occurred, undermining its preventive measures and resulting in the destruction of critical public infrastructure.
Preliminary assessment shows that the Load-bed and Excavator weighed more than 50 tons, a weight that is twice the 25 tons limit.
The Ministry of Public Works reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the safety and durability of public infrastructures and urges stakeholders, especially regulatory bodies, to uphold their responsibilities in protecting national assets.
Further investigations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident, and appropriate actions will be taken to prevent a recurrence.
WHY THE BRIDGE IN RIVER CESS COUNTY COLLAPSE?
Expert says that the Cestos bridge collapsed under the weight of a flatbed trailer carrying a heavy excavator, due to a combined weight of the flatbed trailer, estimated at 15 tons, and the excavator, approximately 35 tons, exceeded the bridge’s weight limit of 40 tons( assumption).
An experienced engineer (name withheld) told IPNEWS that the excessive load caused the bridge to fail, leading to the collapse.
“The overloading appears to be the primary cause, as the total weight of 50 tons surpassed the bridge’s capacity, putting immense stress on its structural components. Additionally, the concentrated weight of the excavator may have created localized stress points that further weakened the bridge.”
“Structural vulnerabilities, such as aging infrastructure or lack of maintenance, may also have contributed to the incident. Environmental factors, such as rain or erosion, could have compromised the bridge’s foundation, making it less stable.” The engineer stated.
To prevent similar tragedies, the engineer proposed that the government enforce strict monitoring of vehicles crossing bridges to ensure compliance with weight limits.
“Regular inspections and timely repairs of bridges are critical to addressing structural weaknesses. Transporters should plan routes carefully, ensuring that heavy loads are compatible with the capacity of bridges along the way. Driver education on the dangers of overloading and adherence to safety regulations is equally important.”
“This incident underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure management in Liberia. They must hire trained engineers to investigate the collapse thoroughly and implement preventive measures to safeguard lives and property.”
