Landslide incidents warrant follow-up care for the newly-built Abay Bridge Ethiopian Reporter
An aerial view shows the new Abay bridge(right) in Gorge, some
200 km (124 miles) north of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa,
September 10, 2008. The bridge will be open to traffic in
October 2008
21 September, 2008
Landslide incidents at the Abay River Gorge called for a close follow-up for the newly-built bridge crossing the river, it was learnt. Stretching 303 meters, the newly-built bridge was completed (except for minor finishing works) three years after the construction commenced and was on Wednesday inaugurated by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
“Although the design of the bridge takes into account the geological phenomenon at the Abay gorge [characterized by land slides], the newly built bridge needs a close follow-up as an earth-slide incident in the river gorge is increasing,” Ziad W.Gebriel, general manager of the Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA), said at the inauguration ceremony. “I believe that the government of Japan, which has good experience and expertise in landmass constructions associated with phenomenon such as earth slides, will continue to provide us with its technical support.”
Across the road along the Abay gorge which leads to the newly erected bridge, signboards warn the possible incident of rock slides while cracked asphalt are evident at some spots across the road.
Located some 205 km north-west of Addis Ababa, the new bridge was built adjacent to the old one in service for the last 60 years. It is part of the 40.45 km asphalt road traversing Abay gorge stretching from Goha Tsion to Dejen, a town some 220 km north-west of the metropolis.
Fully financed by the government of Japan, the project cost stands at 320 million birr, the construction of the bridge accounting for 40 percent of the total, according to ERA’s manager.
The Ethiopian government requested Japan to finance this project for its widely known expertise in managing landmass tuned to landslide on a grand scale, Kassu Ilala, Minister of Works and Urban Development, said at the inauguration of the bridge, which was attended by ministers, ambassadors, diplomats and other guests.
“This bridge is unique in Ethiopia,” the Minister said. “It required a unique solution intimately linked to the unique characteristics of the gorge which dictated a location and approach of the road to it.”
Having a width of nine meters, the new bridge will, unlike the old one, allow a two way traffic.
The bridge is expected to open to traffic in October, two months earlier than scheduled.
The construction of the bridge, dubbed extra dosed type, was undertaken by the Japanese construction firm Kajima Corporation.
The first of its type in the country, the bridge is reinforced by cables fastened to the major towers carrying the girder, like most such facilities in use in the western world.
The girder has a height of 55 meters from the river base, while the major towers stood 14 meters above the bridge. It is constructed approximately 145 meters upstream from the old bridge, standing some 20 meters taller.
The road project, which is being financed by the government of Japan and executed by Kajima, stretches from Addis Ababa to Debre Markos. The upgrading work of 186 km road from Addis Ababa to Goha Tsion was completed in 2005.
With the total road project measuring some 220 km finalized, the 10-hour drive route will be shortened to four hours.
“This great work will remain symbolic and a living monument to the Japanese government's cooperation with Ethiopia for the latter’s development,” Meles said on the occasion, reflecting the economic and historical significance of the Nile coupled with the 21st bridge technology the newly-built facility features. “This new bridge will herald the beginning of the erection of more bridges, dams, and other development activities across the river that will turn the Nile into becoming ideal in spinning up the country’s economy rather than being a bottleneck for development.”
The Prime Minister named the newly erected facility renaissance bridge.
The Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Kenechi Kohamo, on his part said the newly-built bridge will continue to be a living symbol of friendship between Ethiopia and Japan and opening a new state of industrial and development cooperation between the two countries.
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