TIMPHISINI – As summer begins and rainy days approaching, there is a glimmer of hope for residents from Nhlambeni community in Timphisini that they will now have a new bridge at the Sonyama River here.
For the past 10 years, the residents were forced to use handmade ladders to connect the fallen concrete pillars to the other side of the the river. This was after the bridge collapsed and its edges worn out due to engeering fault and poor surveying excirse by the previous contractors. Heavy rains were able to damage the then bridge causing it to fall. Its collapse has caused so much frustration to the community such that motorists travelling towards Driekopis Dam via this route had to literally drive through temporal makeshifts erected across the river.
Eswatini Positive News (EPN) has learnt that those who were also affected most included pupils from various schools. The collapsed bridge is situated 300 metres away from the Mswaweni/Buhleni road.
In fact, during rainy season the residents are grounded.
As a way of meeting government halfway, the residents had tried coming up with a ‘plan b’ structure but risky too. They have constructed a substandard low bridge that is over flooded and inaccessible during rainy days.
Following several applications by the Timphisini Constituency council government has responded with positive news and set aside E9.8 million for the construction of a new bridge.
Nhlambeni in one of the communities found under Timphisini Constituency.
This publication has it in its authority that last Friday, a delegation from Microproject visited the community where a contractor was also introduced for the construction of the new bridge.
Information reaching this publication is that the contractor, Valid Traders, has been awarded the tender worth E6.8 million for the construction of low level crossing bridge. This will be done through rock filling, earthworks, concreting, reinforcement and installation of portal culverts.
Though government had actually set aside a budget of E9.8 million for the project, the company has pledged to do the job for E6.8 million.
When representing Microproject last Friday, Buhle Dlamini, Assistant Regional Project Officer in the Hhohho Region, told the residents that they are hoping that the project will help the community have a new bridge and be easy to access.
Dlamini further asked for cooperation as the project will take six months to complete.
Meanwhile, Mr Maseko, who was representing Valid Traders, promised that the company will give opportunity to locals in terms of job opportunities, if they have enough skill needed.
Timphisini Member of Parliament Nelson Mamba said they were grateful to government for allocating funds towards construction of the bridge. He said the project is one of the many that the constituency is targeting to implement in order to bring development.
“we are happy and excited that the bridge will be constructed. We believe that this will also help visitors have easy access to the Driekopis Dam which is found a few kilometres from the community,” he said.
