Harare, (New Ziana) – The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has dispelled claims circulating on social media that Birchenough Bridge has developed a crack, saying the photograph being shared online does not show the iconic bridge over the Save River.
In statement on Friday, the Ministry said it was aware of the photograph showing what appeared to be a crack at a steel bridge connection.
“The Ministry wishes to reassure the travelling public that the structure shown in the image is not Birchenough Bridge,” it said.
The Ministry said its conclusion was based on clear structural differences between the bridge in the circulating photograph and Birchenough Bridge itself.
It explained that Birchenough Bridge is a steel arch suspension bridge, with its loads carried through a specific system involving longitudinal steel members known as stringers, transverse cross beams and vertical hangers supported by steel arches spanning the river.
According to the Ministry, the structure depicted in the circulating photograph operates on a fundamentally different principle.
“The structure in the photograph works on an entirely different principle: it is a riveted steel truss (lattice) bridge, in which loads are carried through a framework of steel members joined by riveted gusset plates, and not through an arch-and-hanger system at all,” it said.
The Ministry also pointed to differences in the arrangement of the steelwork. It said the connection visible in the photograph consists of steel members joined by riveted gusset plates, which does not correspond with the steelwork arrangement of Birchenough Bridge.
The alleged crack photograph was further distinguished from Birchenough Bridge by the bridge’s pedestrian walkways.
“Birchenough Bridge has pedestrian footways formed on either side of the carriageway,” the Ministry said, adding that the walkway and steelwork configuration visible in the circulating image did not correspond with those of the bridge.
Beyond disputing the identity of the bridge in the photograph, the Ministry sought to reassure the public that Birchenough Bridge remains subject to regular technical inspections.
It said it maintains a dedicated technical team responsible for inspecting the bridge to ensure that it remains structurally sound and continues to safely carry traffic within established load limits and operating restrictions.
“These inspections form part of the Ministry’s routine bridge-management programme, and any maintenance found to be necessary is attended to accordingly,” the Ministry said.
It stressed that road-user safety remained its foremost priority and assured the public that “Birchenough Bridge remains fit for use under its current controls” and that its condition is kept under continuous professional oversight.
The Ministry has consequently urged members of the public to disregard claims that the circulating photograph depicts Birchenough Bridge and instead rely on official Ministry communication for information concerning the condition of the country’s bridges.
New Ziana
