Commuters and other road users in Bonny Island utilizing the Ghana woman bridge at Akiama community in Bonny Local Government Area now have cause to jubilate as ALCON last week commenced work on reconstruction of the collapsed bridge.

The beleaguered bridge connects Bonny main town to Akiama, Oguede, Coconut Estate, Abalamabie, Bagg-Jumbo, and several other communities in that axis.

During the interregnum when the bridge was out of use, commuting was a challenge as most road users, especially, residents of those communities, had to make a detour through the Wilbros Road to reach their destinations.

This extended route jacked up the transport fare by almost 200 per cent thus making life more difficult for the people of the area.

But with the commencement of work at the bridge, the Local Government Chairman, David Irimagha, who had earlier promised concerted and comprehensive work of overhauling the bridge completely to make it more sustainable, has evidently matched words with action.

During an inspection tour of the work, Irimagha, accompanied by the Secretary to the Local Government Council, Omoni Longjohn, and his Chief of Staff, Uriel John-Jumbo, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work being done.

He further assured that his administration will sustain the trend of qualitative and sustainable development projects that will positively impact the people of the area.

Irimagha appealed for support for his administration to continue to deliver qualitative dividends of democracy.

He later told Kristina Reports that “I’m presently concentrating on the collapsed dual carriage bridge by popular Ghana woman,” noting that his core mandate was to fulfill the reason why he was elected which was to “provide dividends that will impact on the lives of the people respectively”.

A staff of ALCON, who spoke to Kristina Reports at the construction site on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak for the company, said work was progressing according to agreed timelines.

He further stated that the prefabricated slabs were done at ALCON site and moved to the bridge site where they were being laid inside the excavated areas.

According to him, “what we are doing now is a more solid work than the refurbishments that were done before. By the time, we’re through, this bridge will be more solid and safe for people to use”.

Though, he could not say precisely when the work would be completed, he assured that the road would be in use by the festive season come December.

Some residents, who spoke to Kristina Reports expressed happiness at the work being done.

One of them, who simply identified himself as Idawari, praised the LG boss for coming to the aid of those living in the area by fulfilling his promise of not just refurbishing the bridge but reconstructing it.

A commercial motorcyclist, Musa said “I dey happy for the work the chairman I do for the bridge. Soon, as I see am we go dey run for there well, well.”