The installation of the temporary metallic bridge at Mangapaika, located at PK 505 of National Road 4 (RN4) connecting Mahajanga to Antananarivo, was completed last Friday. Traffic has been restored and the route is now open to vehicles.
The repairs took ten days following the collapse of the original bridge two weeks ago when a heavy truck attempted to cross. The incident caused significant disruption to traffic and transport. The new Bailey-type metallic bridge measures 30 meters—an increase from the previous 20 meters—and can support a load of up to 44 tonnes.
On Friday, the Minister of Public Works, accompanied by Mahajanga authorities, including the Head of the Boeny Region and the Regional Director of Public Works, visited the site to inspect the progress. “National Road 4 is strategic for the country. It is one of the most traveled national routes, especially during the peak season from late June to the end of August. The national road serves as a vital axis for the transport of people and goods. In accordance with the President’s instructions, priority is given to rehabilitating national roads connecting provincial capitals and strategic zones of the island,” the Minister stated.
The state of the metallic bridges between Berivotra and Amboromalandy currently requires emergency repair work. One of the recently rehabilitated footbridges is located in Tanambao Andranolava.
Meanwhile, the Andriambavirano bridge has been reconstructed in concrete, replacing the metallic or Bailey-type structure that had served for decades.
The Ministry of Public Works had announced a temporary half-day closure last Thursday at the Berivotra bridge (PK 520+750) for maintenance purposes; however, the works were eventually canceled, and the road remained open.
The severely degraded condition of National Road 4 has sparked numerous complaints and criticisms over the past year, although slight improvements are noted in some sections.
A Nightmare
Among other areas, from PK 498, after Tanambao Andranolava in Ankarafantsika, the roadway has been widened by two meters (one meter on each side).
The shoulders have been improved, and pruning works are visible, particularly along the road leading to the national park. Operations to fell trees that hinder traffic and the passage of large vehicles are currently underway.
However, the nightmare persists for a 58 km stretch between the rural commune of Belobaka, in the Mahajanga II district, and Ambovondramanesy. The road condition is abysmal from the Boanamary junction, through Besely, to Mangaroa.
“Site managers scraped the asphalt, which was in very good condition a year ago. Since then, no further action or work has been carried out. The vibrations prevent vehicles from driving normally on this degraded, gravel-covered road. This section used to be covered in under forty minutes to Ambovondramanesy; today, it takes two hours. It is unheard of and scandalous,” insisted a regular user of the route.
The situation is equally dire at the exit of Ankarafantsika toward the commune of Andranofasika. For a week, about 100 meters before and 200 meters after the bridge—in front of a church—the road surface has been torn up and the asphalt removed.
Captured & Published at: 2026-06-23 07:30:36 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/06/rn4-la-circulation-reprend-au-pont-de.html