By Jensen Brian Abass Cummings

Urgent Attention Needed – The Deteriorating Newcastle Street Bridge at Thunder Hill and Low-Cost Bridge at Kissy Bypass Road

In Freetown, the Newcastle Street Bridge at Thunder Hill and the Low-Cost Bridge at Kissy Bypass Road are in dire need of urgent repair. These two bridges serve as vital transportation links for communities in the eastern parts of Freetown. However, the neglect of these key infrastructures, coupled with a lack of concrete action from the relevant authorities, has resulted in growing safety concerns and significant disruptions to daily life.

The Newcastle Street Bridge, located by Thunder Hill, was closed in October of last year after it was deemed unsafe by road authorities. Since the closure, the bridge has been abandoned, leaving thousands of residents and businesses in the area struggling to find alternative routes. The closure has caused massive traffic congestion, particularly for those traveling from the east to the city center and vice versa. The bridge, which once helped ease the traffic flow, now lies dormant, further exacerbating the gridlock in a part of the city that already suffers from insufficient infrastructure. Despite this urgent need, no repair or replacement plans have been announced, causing frustration and confusion among the community. As the months drag on, the people of this area are being left behind, with no clear pathway to resolving this critical issue.

Similarly, the Low-Cost Bridge at Kissy Bypass Road, a key link for traffic between the eastern and western parts of Freetown, is nearing collapse. Despite its deteriorating state, vehicles and pedestrians continue to use it daily, risking their lives. The structural weakness of this bridge is a ticking time bomb; the potential for a fatal accident grows with every passing day. And yet, even though the bridge is almost on the brink of collapse, no significant efforts have been made to either repair it or provide an alternative structure for the thousands who rely on it daily. This negligence is not only a matter of inconvenience but an issue of public safety that demands immediate government intervention.

What is particularly frustrating for the communities on the eastern side of the city is the apparent disparity in the way the government has handled similar issues in other parts of Freetown. In areas like the western part of the city, when key bridges began to deteriorate or pose safety concerns, repairs and replacements were undertaken swiftly. A case in point is the recent work done on bridges near Wilberforce and other areas in the west, which were repaired or replaced quickly to avoid long-term disruption to transportation. In stark contrast, the eastern side of Freetown, despite having two critical bridges in need of immediate attention, has not seen the same level of urgency or care.

This stark disparity highlights a growing issue of regional neglect. The eastern part of Freetown, home to a significant portion of the city’s population, is being left behind when it comes to maintaining and upgrading crucial infrastructure. This unequal treatment has caused frustration and alienation among those who feel their needs are ignored, while areas in the western part of the city continue to receive much-needed attention.

It’s time for the government and local authorities to treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves. The Newcastle Street Bridge and Low-Cost Bridge are crucial lifelines for the eastern part of Freetown. The lack of action from the authorities is not just an inconvenience, but an outright failure to ensure the safety and well-being of residents. The government must show that it values the lives of all Sierra Leoneans, regardless of which part of the city they live in.

Immediate steps must be taken to address this issue. Plans for the repair or replacement of these bridges should be put into action without delay. Alternative routes need to be provided, particularly during peak hours, to ease the traffic flow in the absence of these bridges. The authorities must also put in place safety measures for users of the Low-Cost Bridge before it’s too late. Finally, there should be an equitable approach to infrastructure development across the city, ensuring that all areas, particularly the underserved eastern part, receive timely and necessary attention.

We are appealing to the Sierra Leonean government to take swift, decisive action before we witness a tragedy. The Newcastle Street and Low-Cost Bridges are more than just transport routes—they are lifelines. The residents of Freetown, especially in the east, need and deserve urgent government intervention to restore these crucial structures before it’s too late.