The Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced that the ongoing work at the damaged Al-Qaqa’iya Bridge is progressing, indicating that the workshop has moved to the stage of constructing the ferry, over which a temporary crossing corridor will be built, in a step aimed at re-securing movement of traffic through this vital point on the Litani River.
The Ministry explained, in a statement, that the field teams and its affiliated mechanisms are currently working on installing the first row of pipes, followed by the installation of a second row, before completing the backfilling work and necessary equipment to construct the road above the ferry and putting it into service.
The establishment of the temporary corridor comes with the aim of providing an alternative that allows traffic to resume in the area until the required treatments for the damaged bridge are completed, especially in light of its importance to the movement of people between a number of southern regions.
The Qaqaaiya Bridge constitutes a key point within the road network in southern Lebanon, as it locally connects the two banks of the Litani River and serves transportation between a number of districts and towns.
It is also considered one of the important corridors linking the Nabatieh district to the Bint Jbeil district, which makes reopening the transit route a priority for the residents of the region, especially since any interruption at this point forces citizens to use alternative roads and increases the time and distances required for transportation.
The bridges extending over the Litani River are of particular importance in the southern transportation network, given their role in connecting the areas on both sides of the river and ensuring the movement of residents and the movement of vehicles and services between villages and towns.
The Qaqaqia Bridge works are part of workshops that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport is implementing to address the damage to the road and bridge network, especially in the south, where military developments and Israeli attacks have led to extensive damage to a number of facilities, infrastructure and roads.
The importance of rehabilitating these facilities is not limited to daily traffic, as it is also linked to the ability of emergency teams, ambulances, and public services to reach the areas, as well as facilitating the movement of commercial and agricultural activity between towns.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport confirmed that it continues to monitor the progress of the workshop until the completion of the work, as part of its efforts to rehabilitate damaged roads and bridges and restore connectivity to the road network in various regions.
The completion of the ferry and the temporary corridor would reopen this vital link between Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil and alleviate the suffering of the people resulting from the use of alternative routes, until permanent solutions for the bridge are completed.
