THOUSANDS of residents of Enugu metropolis were yesterday disconnected from the city capital as a 37-year-old main bridge linking Abakpa Nike with the rest of the state collapsed during a heavy rainfall.

The bridge, said to have been built in 1975, did not show any sign of threat before its sudden collapse at about 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday night. No causality was, however, recorded.

Our reporter, who visited the scene in the afternoon yesterday, discovered that the Enugu State government had deployed Arab Contractors Construction Company to the location, while the bridge had been barricaded with security men keeping vigil at the place.

Children, who used the bridge to cross over to their schools like Nike Grammar School and Army Day Secondary School, were seen trekking long alternative distances while others swam through the Ekulu River.

Commercial bus operators have hiked their fares as alternative routes of Trans Ekulu and Nike Lake road are now being used with compounded traffic.

More; http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1720-37-year-old-abakpa-nike-bridge-collapses-thousands-displaced

youngies: The bridge, said to have been built in 1975, did not show any sign of threat before its sudden collapse at about 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday night. No causality was, however, recorded.

Translation - The bridge was not maintained by any group in that whole time, because on the surface, it looked like there were no signs that it needed much maintenance.

I just woke up today to hear this news, God bless Nigeria. the bridge did not look structurally sound to me.