Government Sets Record Straight On Viral Birchenough Bridge Steel Crack Photo
By Desire Tshuma
Harare – The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has dismissed social media reports claiming that a photograph circulating online shows a dangerous crack on Birchenough Bridge, assuring the public that the structure in the image is not the iconic Save River bridge.
In a public statement dated August 14, 2026, the Ministry said it had taken note of the photograph showing what appears to be a crack on a steel bridge connection, which had been widely attributed to Birchenough Bridge.
The Ministry said the claim was false, pointing to clear structural differences between the bridge shown in the photograph and Birchenough Bridge.
According to the Ministry, Birchenough Bridge is a steel arch suspension bridge whose deck is supported by longitudinal steel members known as stringers. These are supported by transverse cross beams, with the load ultimately transferred through vertical hangers to the steel arches before being carried down to the abutments on either side of the river.
The structure shown in the circulating photograph, however, is a riveted steel truss bridge, where loads are carried through a framework of steel members joined by riveted gusset plates.
The Ministry also highlighted differences in the arrangement of the steelwork, saying the connections visible in the photograph do not correspond with the structural configuration of Birchenough Bridge.
Another key difference is the pedestrian walkway. Birchenough Bridge has dedicated pedestrian footways on either side of the carriageway, fabricated from special rust-resistant steel, while the walkway and steelwork configuration seen in the viral photograph do not match those of the bridge.
The Ministry sought to reassure motorists and other road users that Birchenough Bridge remains under regular professional inspection. It said a dedicated technical team routinely assesses the bridge to ensure that it remains structurally sound and capable of safely carrying traffic within established load limits and operating restrictions.
“Safety of road users remains the Ministry’s foremost priority,” the statement said, adding that any maintenance requirements identified during inspections are attended to accordingly.
The Ministry urged members of the public to disregard claims linking the circulating photograph to Birchenough Bridge and instead rely on official communication for accurate information concerning the condition of the country’s bridges.
The clarification comes amid growing concern over infrastructure safety, with images of damaged bridges often generating alarm on social media before their locations and authenticity are independently verified.
