KUWAIT CITY, Sept 30: A truck collided with a bridge under construction on the Fifth Ring Road opposite Ardiya area yesterday afternoon, resulting in a massive traffic jam but no human casualties. Due to the traffic jam, vehicles had to be diverted to Mohammed bin Al-Qasim Street.

According to the Public Relations and Media Department of the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate, when the Operations Room received information about the accident, officers from the Ministry of Interior and firefighters from Ardiya Fire Station were dispatched to the location. The team discovered upon arrival that the accident occurred as a result of the truck colliding with the bridge under construction, which led to one of the iron columns falling on a vehicle. Within two hours, they were able to reopen the road, after shifting one of the iron columns that fell from the bridge. In this regard, the Public Authority for Road and Transportation (PART) issued a press statement to explain that the truck was carrying bricks at a higher height than what was authorized.

This caused the vehicle to hit the bridge and get stuck under one of the temporary metal beams of the bridge on the Fifth Ring Road (H T/266), which led to the metal bar falling and closing the road. Coordination had been made with the General Traffic Department to secure the road to remove the metal bars and then reopen the road. PART stressed that it reserves the right to take necessary legal measures against the vehicle.

Also, a member of the National Assembly Mubarak Al-Tasha said that the incident of parts of the bridge falling “shows us the extent of corruption and indifference to people’s lives. It confirms to us the minister’s inability to manage the ministry even though she had ample opportunity to do so.” He said he believes this dangerous indicator requires the Minister of Public Works to submit her resignation from her position out of respect for the nation and its will; otherwise, accountability will inevitably come if it continues.

By Munaif Nayef and Muhammad Ghanem
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff