The incident has brought traffic to a standstill, with no vehicles able to cross the bridge. The road runs through Agateko Cell in Jali Sector, including Buhiza and Nyakabungo, before continuing into Rulindo.
A resident of Gasabo District said the truck became stuck after the steel structure beneath it gave way.
“This morning, a truck carrying sand drove onto the bridge, and the steel underneath broke. Its tyres sank into the gap, and it nearly fell through before getting stuck, blocking all other vehicles,” the resident said.
The City of Kigali has confirmed that the bridge is now closed to all vehicles, both large and small. Only pedestrians are allowed to cross.
Residents say the incident has exposed the poor condition of a bridge that has served the community for more than 30 years. They say its steel structure has been deteriorating for some time, despite previous efforts by residents to help repair it.
“It is an old bridge that has been in use for more than 30 years. It has been falling apart for a long time, and the steel underneath has worn out,” another resident said.
The resident added that while the community had previously joined efforts to maintain the bridge, keeping it in good condition had become increasingly difficult.
The City of Kigali says it is working to have the bridge repaired as quickly as possible so that traffic can resume.
However, authorities have not yet announced when the bridge will reopen to vehicles.
