FRSC raises alarm over imminent collapse of Katsina-Ala bridge in Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Benue State has raised alarm over imminent collapse of Katsina-Ala Bridge in Benue State due to indiscriminate parking of heavy vehicles
The Corps therefore,warned heavy duty drivers against the indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles along the bridge, noting that it could portend future danger for the bridge.
Assistant Corps Commander, Terngu Adagba, who is the Unit Commander of the FRSC RS 4.23 in Katsina-Ala, who gave the warning in an interview with our correspondent in Makurdi on Monday, said parking trailers with heavy contents on the bridge could be dangerous and lead to imminent collapse.
Adagba said, “For trucks, tankers and trailers parking on the Katsina-Ala bridge, we are sitting on a keg of gun powder.
“When these vehicles are stationary on the bridge for long time, they have negative impact, including deterioration, bridge fatigue, damage or even collapse.
“An empty 20 feet tank weighs 2000 kilograms, a 40 feet empty tanker doubles the kilograms. With an average truck weighing 14,000 kilograms the total weight of 25 stationery trucks on a bridge for instance could be around 450,000 kilograms.
“It’s therefore not right for trucks and tankers to park on Katsina-Ala bridge because the bridge was not designed as parking lot for them,” he said.
Adagba therefore appealed to the local authorities to stop the parking of the heavy duty vehicles on top of the bridge.