The Minister of Infrastructure and Openings, Adama Luc Sorgho, was in the Department of Hauts-Bassins on Tuesday 30 July 2024, the day after heavy rain that weakened several structures. On the site, the minister announced urgent measures to quickly resume traffic on the roads cut off by the rains.
During the run, the Minister of Infrastructure and Openings, Adama Luc Sorgho visited the Sogossagosso and Yéguéresso bridges on the Bobo-Ouaga axis, the Badala bridge on the Bobo-Orodara axis and the Badara bridge on the Bobo-Bama axis. The minister also visited the Bobo-Banfora axis, where part of the section between Takalédougou and Toussiana was severely damaged by rainwater. If in Sogossagosso, Yéguéresso and on the Banfora road, the traffic was able to resume a few minutes after the rains passed, this was not yet the case on the Bobo-Orodara axis and on the Bobo-Bama axis. On both these roads the bridges have completely collapsed. A situation that has stopped traffic since July 29, 2024.
Salfo Pacéré, General Director for Road Maintenance explains that “after the heavy rains, the structures at the access embankments sank. At the Badala bridge on the Bobo-Orodara axis there was a scuffle until the transfer tile gave way. Otherwise, there is no problem with the work.” However, he reassures him that “work has been done to quickly rebuild the access embankment”. “We are going to protect it until floods also avoid other so that traffic can resume on Thursday (editor’s note: today or tomorrow Friday) he says and specifies that major work will be done especially on the Badara bridge in Bama.
Emergency measures
The decline is very serious and technicians say they need time after the rainy season to be able to intervene. The structure, at least 28 meters long, completely collapsed under the pressure of the water. On the site, several transport vehicles heading to Mali are forming a long queue. Users are hoping to see traffic resume as soon as possible. It is for a faster speed in the resumption of traffic on this entire road network that the Minister Adama Luc Sorgho expected this tour in the Hauts-Bassins. “We will find solutions because right now, whether on the Bobo-Orodara road or on the Bama road, we see that traffic is completely stopped. Arrangements are being made to restart traffic and ensure we have direct access to Bobo-Dioulasso,” he reassures. As urgent measures to resume traffic, the minister promises that metal bridges will be installed immediately in Badala and Badara in Bama before this Thursday to allow vehicles to move to the Mali border. Under the supervision of the technical services of the Ministry of Infrastructure.
Ousmane TRAORE
