The Juba Nile Bridge was officially reopened today after a one-month rehabilitation work to repair damages in the structure by an overloaded truck in mid-2011 affecting its safety.
Roads and Bridges Minister Gier Chuang Aluong thanked the United States of America and other partners for their joint effort to rehabilitate the Juba Nile Bridge in record time, Bakhita Radio reported.
He said the bridge is a vital link between the West bank and the rest of the world.
Mr Chuang said his government has given priority to the national road network to allow services, including health, education and security, to reach people in rural areas.
U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Susan Page thanked the Japanese people for their support for the development of infrastructure in South Sudan.
She said building bridges and roads across the country would quench the high demand for development.
The repair works that prevented a possible collapse of Juba Bridge cost 740,000 US dollars and extended the life of the structure until a planned new crossing is built over the White Nile.
JICA, the Japanese International Corporation Agency, completed preliminary studies for a new bridge in Juba that should be ready in 2016.