The Roads and Highways Minister has lamented the fatal condition of both Buipe and Yapie bridges in the Northern Region which he said need urgent works.

Kwasi Amoako-Attah said the failure to repair the bridges might impact negatively on trade both local and at the regional.

“We are having serious problems with both Buipe and Yapie bridges [and] we have gotten to the stage that something drastically has to be done,” he said.

The Minister made these remarks when he inspected ongoing emergency works on the bridges Friday.

The Buipe Bridge was constructed to last for a period of 50 years, however, it is current in its 54th year. The metal joints have grown weak that the strength of the bridge has reduced occasioning intermittent repair works.

The bridge facilitates the easy movement of goods and people from the three Regions of the North to other parts of the country as well as landlocked countries surrounding Ghana.

There is currently an ongoing maintenance works being done on the bridges to strengthen areas that have shown signs of weakness.

Considering the unique position of the two bridges, Mr Amoako-Attah has urged the contractors to speed up the work to allow motorists to use them.

The works have been estimated to cost the country GHC 499,000.00 and expected to carried out between February 17, to March 8.

The work is being done by the Bridge Maintenance Unit of the Roads and Highways Ministry.