BANFORA – The rehabilitation of the Takaledougou bridge on National Road 7 (RN7), connecting Banfora to Bobo, has reached a 30% completion rate one week after commencement, as visited and reviewed by Salfo Paceré, the General Director of Road Maintenance.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the project involves reconstructing a dike and the road embankment, both of which suffered damage following torrential rainfall. Despite the swift progress, the work faces challenges due to weather conditions and issues related to the sourcing of materials. “Rainfall forces us to pause operations, and accessing borrow sites has also posed difficulties,” Paceré explained during his site visit on Friday, August 9, 2024.

He assured that solutions to these challenges have been implemented, ensuring the continuation of the project without further concerns about material sourcing. The urgency of the repairs was underscored by the infrastructure minister’s directive to quickly find a contractor capable of restoring the dike and embankment to resume normal traffic flow on this crucial segment of RN7.

Paceré highlighted that traffic has not been halted but is being alternately directed to allow the continuation of the work. He requested patience from road users and adherence to the directions provided by traffic regulators at the site.

The overarching goal of this reconstruction effort is to maintain traffic flow and ensure the efficient transport of goods along this vital national route. Paceré also noted the prioritization of national, community, and paved roads in their maintenance strategy, stressing proactive measures in surveying and addressing damages or emergencies on these key transportation arteries.