Albino Bridge in Juba during the inauguration ceremony on Friday, 23rd Feb 2024. Photo Credit: Charles Wote/Eye Radio

The government on Friday commissioned a 12-meter-long Japanese-built Albino bridge linking Kator and Malakia residential areas in the national capital Juba.

Albino Bridge was first constructed in 1969 by the former regional government of Southern Sudan, but over the years, it had been on the verge of collapse.

In January 2023, the Japanese government, through its International Corporation Agency – JICA embarked on the construction of the bridge over the seasonal tributary of the Nile River.

It is part of the 22 million-US dollar project for the construction of three key bridges including those along Giada and Kokora roads in Juba.

The grant from the people of Japan is a token of friendship and cooperation between Japan and South Sudan, according to JICA.

Speaking during the commissioning, the Roads and Bridges Minister Simon Mijok Mijak, urged the road users and those living around to take good care of the bridge.

“This occasion is marked as a kind of handing over the road to the citizens. The road has been opened to you. It is now yours, just like your house, and that is why from today this road, you must take ownership and responsibility which was said earlier,” Mijak said.

For his part, the JICA representative Tanaka Hiryoyuki said the bridge will contribute to efficient traffic in Juba.

He added that the construction of Giada and Kokora bridges will finish by the end of this year.

“This grant aid project aims to enhance the traffic network in Juba by upgrading these three critical bridges which will inevitability lead to more efficient traffic in Juba city.”

“We have gathered here to commemorate the handing over ceremony for the new Albino bridge. Construction of the two remaining bridge is ongoing. Giada bridge and Kokora bridge are expected to be completed later this year.”

Central Equatoria State Deputy Governor, Sarah Nene, urges local residents to keep the bridge clean.

“My people of Kator, you have seen this bridge leave this bridge to be clean, we have the motto of our state that ‘Keep Juba clean, green and beautiful.’ We can see the garbage at the eastern and western sides,” she said.

“Let you the block directors work hard to keep the area clean and quarter council this is the first work quarter council should do to collect the garbage.”

Juba City Mayor, Flora Gabriel Modi, reiterated similar calls on the residents to take care of the infrastructure.

“I want you to make effort and use this bridge in good manner and I am also obliging all the citizens to keep it clean as you can see from there.”

“There is a lot of waste but from today, I want all the people of Kator to keep Kator clean and to take away whatever is near the bridge and even in their surroundings.”