Collapsed Bridge Cuts Off Kokoso-Asubonteng and other adjoining communities.

Residents of Kokoso-Asubonteng and other adjoining communities in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) of the Ashanti Region have been cut off due to the collapse of an important bridge connecting the area.

Apart from Kokoso-Asubonteng, residents in areas like Adumano, Adoato, Sofoline, and other communities are now compelled to use a long winding and deplorable route through Abrepo Junction within Bantama Constituency before getting access to the Abrepo-Barekese highways which is a short distance away.

As a result, commercial drivers are taking advantage to charge exorbitant fares.

The bridge which has served the community for lengthy years as an alternative route to the Abrepo-Barekese road has now become a death trap and residents including school children have to use long distances or take risks in crossing the broken bridge.

Those with bicycles or motorcycles could not even use the bridge and sometimes carry their bikes before crossing the bridge to their destinations, while vehicles no longer use the route.

According to the affected residents, the broken bridge even claimed the life of a young lady and three school children some months ago when there was a heavy downpour.

Sofo Bronya, a resident of the Kokoso-Asubonteng complained bitterly about the danger and hardships posed by the deplorable bridge.

He told Silver FM's Akwadaa Nyame that the bridge if constructed would help the residents to access the Sofoline-Barekese road with ease.

Some residents also shared their frustrations, saying that the collapsed bridge is having a heavy toll on the socio-economic development of the area.

They claimed that the situation had given caused some teachers and pupils to stay away from school because they could not cross the broken bridge especially when it rains, and appealed to the government to urgently construct the bridge.

Checks at the Urban Roads Department at the KMA  revealed that the bridge despite several complaints is yet to be captured in their budget.