The FRSC in Benue State is warning that the Katsina-Ala bridge is in danger of collapsing because truck drivers are using it as a parking lot.
Terngu Adagba, the Katsina-Ala Unit Commander of FRSC RS 4.23, expressed regret that the warnings to truck drivers about parking on the bridge were ignored.
Speaking to reporters in Makurdi, Adagba said that parking loaded trailers on the bridge could be unsafe and might cause it to collapse.
The bridge connects the North Eastern part of Benue State to Taraba and Cross River states and was recently fixed by the Federal Government.
Adagba explained, “When trucks, tankers, and trailers park on the Katsina-Ala bridge, we are in a dangerous situation.
“When these vehicles stay still on the bridge for a long time, they cause harm such as deterioration, bridge fatigue, damage, or collapse.
“A 20 feet empty tanker weighs 2,000kg , a 40 feet empty tanker has double the weight. With an average truck weighing 14,000kg, the total weight of 25 stationary trucks on a bridge could be about 450,000kg.
“Therefore, it's not appropriate for trucks and tankers to park on the Katsina-Ala Bridge because it wasn't made for that purpose.”
Adagba urged articulated truck drivers to stop parking on the bridge, emphasizing that the unregulated parking could endanger the bridge.
