MP Dr. Opio constructs bridge to stop floods in Kole North

Kole North constituents are in joy following the construction of Omono Anyira Gedo Bridge. The vital infrastructure project, funded by area Member of Parliament Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, is located in Adelogo parish, Okwerodot sub-county, Kole.

Speaking to tndNews on Saturday, August 30, 2025, MP Dr. Opio stated that the crossing point had been a persistent problem for years.

Residents faced severe challenges from persistent flooding at the Omono Anyira Gedo stream, especially during the rainy season, he said.

Dr. Opio stated that the flooding had made it extremely difficult for pupils to reach the nearby government-aided primary schools and for farmers to access the weekly Barpiro market.

The majority were forced to use an alternative, longer route of 2km instead of the direct 100m path after the original road was cut off.

“Some of the pupils would also not go to school due to the longer distance,” he added.

Apio Florence, a resident of Adelogo parish, highlighted the severity of the situation. “Most of the women have been undressing to cross this stream, whose water levels would at times rise up to 2 metres high,” she said.

She further explained the economic impact: “Apart from that, this bridge also affected the movement of farmers and traders, who have been suffering with high costs of transport due to longer distances in moving their produce to the weekly market of Barpiro.”

The construction of the 5-meter bridge worth over shs35m took over two months to complete. The construction involved extensive work including earth excavation, culvert installation, head and wing wall construction, backfilling, gravelling, and compaction.

MP Opio announced that the bridge has already been opened to the public, with pedestrians, motorcyclists, and vehicles now using it. “This is what we call developmental progress by the elected leaders,” he stated.

While already in use, the bridge is scheduled to be officially inaugurated in September after final tests are conducted to assess its resilience to heavy rains.

At the moment, water levels that used to rise to 2 metres up have now dropped to less than 2 feet due to the new construction.

MP Opio called on the government to prioritize the construction of climate-resistant bridges and roads to avert the ever-increasing flooding that is cutting off many vital transport links across the country.