Sappers are building provisional bridge over River Hornád between Kysak and Veľká Lodina to replace fallen one and unsuitable detour route

Sappers of the Engineer Battalion Sereď, joined by firefighters from the Rescue Brigade Humenné, Fire and Rescue Service Corps, started building a temporary bridge over the River Hornád between Kysak and Veľká Lodina on 4 January 2021. The original bridge was closed in August last year because it was in poor repair before it collapsed in October. As a result, local residents had to take an unsuitable detour route several times longer than normal. The bridge is expected to be complete within 10 days.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Despite the critical pandemic situation, the problems people have continue to exist in other areas as well. That's why I am truly proud that, as well as undertaking their business as usual tasks in defence of the State, the Slovak Armed Forces are present everywhere where our citizens need them – whether that be in hospitals or settlements such as Sopotnica where they are building an important road link.” He went on to add that the bridge closure has caused complications even for the Integrated Rescue Service (IRS) first responders who have had to take a detour when responding to local incidents.“The health and lives of people come first under any circumstances,” he emphasised.

Apart from the Fire and Rescue Service, the residents of Malá Lodina and Veľká Lodina, too, have had to take a long detour around the Ružín Reservoir. The detour route is very narrow, with poor visibility on bends, and hence unsuitable for road traffic in the long term.

Zuzana Vozár Kakaščíková, the head of the Košice District Office for Surrounding Municipalities, confirmed that the detour route around the River Hornád is problematic, especially in the winter season. “Unfortunately, the road was impassable in some of its sections during the floods. So, building a provisional bridge was deemed a necessity and the only solution for the time being,” she said.

Building work on the provisional bridge started on Monday 4 January 2021, whereas the bridge elements were lent to the District Office by the Material State Reserves. “To build the provisional bridge as quickly as possible in order to serve the residents of the affected villages, soldiers and firefighters are working even today and will continue to work uninterruptedly even during the weekend, for which we are grateful to them,” emphasised Zuzana Vozár Kakaščíková.