Bridge over R1 at Entrance to Banska Bystrica Closed Due to Disrepair

Banska Bystrica, September 19 (TASR) - The first bridge at the entrance to Banska Bystrica in the direction from Zvolen over the R1 expressway (Kremniciansky bridge) has been closed and neither cars nor pedestrians can cross it, representatives of the city of Banska Bystrica told TASR on the scene, adding that the reason is its disrepair. Banska Bystrica mayor Jan Nosko reported that the closure of the 50-year-old bridge to all traffic was necessitated by the results of a static assessment after a regular inspection of the bridge, which the city hall received on Wednesday (September 18). The bridge inspection found a number of serious defects in the structure. "This bridge has been assessed as class 7, which is a state of disrepair. The previous inspection stated a condition of 4-5, which means that there has been a sudden deterioration in the condition of this bridge, which may also be related to the rain and the waterlogged conditions. We immediately convened a working group this morning with the participation of the city's expert departments, representatives of the National Highway Company (NDS), the Slovak Road Administration (SSC) and the traffic police," stated Nosko, adding that in this context they declared an emergency situation and proceeded to an immediate measure, that is closing the bridge not only for cars, but also for cyclists and pedestrians. Traffic safety on the R1 expressway isn't endangered. am/mcs