The road at the exit of Andranofasika bridge has been scraped. The installation of the temporary metal bridge at Mangapaika, at kilometer 505 of national road 4 connecting Mahajanga to Antananarivo, was completed last Friday. Traffic has been restored and vehicle circulation is now open again. The work lasted ten days, following the collapse of the old bridge when a heavy truck passed over it two weeks ago. This situation had caused significant traffic and transport disruptions. The new metal bridge is of Bailey type. It measures 30 meters, compared to 20 meters previously, and can support up to 44 tons of load. 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 observe the work firsthand. "National road 4 is strategic for the country. It is one of the most heavily traveled national roads, especially during high season, from late June to late August. The national road is a vital axis for the transport of people and goods. In accordance with the President's instructions, priority is given to restoring national roads connecting provincial capitals and strategic areas of the island," the minister declared. The condition of metal bridges between Berivotra and Amboromalandy currently requires urgent repair work. One of the recently rehabilitated footbridges is located at Tanambao Andranolava. The Andriambavirano bridge has just been built in concrete, whereas for decades the viaduct was metal or Bailey type. The Ministry of Public Works had announced a temporary half-day closure last Thursday at the Berivotra bridge, at kilometer 520+750, for maintenance reasons. Finally, the work was canceled and the road was not closed. The severely degraded condition of national road 4 has prompted numerous complaints and criticism over the past year. However, slight improvements are visible on some sections. Between other things, starting from kilometer 498, after Tanambao Andranolava, at Ankarafantsika, the roadway has been widened by two meters (one meter on each side). The shoulders have been improved. Tree-trimming work is visible and being carried out, especially along the road leading to the national park. Operations to fell tree trunks obstructing traffic and the passage of large vehicles are currently underway. The nightmare persists between the rural municipality of Belobaka, in Mahajanga II district, and Ambovondramanesy, over 58 kilometers. The road condition is appalling from the Boanamary intersection, passing through Besely, to Mangaroa. "Site managers scraped the asphalt, which was still in very good condition a year ago. Since then, no action or work has been carried out. The jolts prevent vehicles from driving normally on this degraded roadway covered with gravel. This section used to take less than forty minutes to travel to Ambovondramanesy. Today, it takes two hours to cross it. Unprecedented. It's scandalous," insists a user of this national road. The worst is also found at the exit of Ankarafantsika, toward the municipality of Andranofasika. For the past week, the road, approximately 100 meters before the bridge entrance and 200 meters after its exit, opposite a church, has been disturbed and the asphalt scraped.