Cabinet Tasks Council of Development and Reconstruction with Dismantling Jal el-Dib Bridge

The Government tasked the Council of Development and Reconstruction on Monday with dismantling the metal bridge in Jal el-Dib and building a new one.

Following a session held at Baabda palace, Information Minister Walid al-Daouq said: “The Council of Ministers agreed to task the Council of Development and Reconstruction with removing the bridge and begin building a new bridge in a U form in accordance with the existing map.”

The cabinet also asked the deputy premier to follow up the issue with the involved agencies and with the Council to issue a preliminary study and deliver a report to the government within 15 days.

Reports that the bridge is under the threat of collapse emerged last week when a six-storey building collapsed in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood of Fassouh leaving 27 people dead.

The Cabinet also approved the organization of the Finance Ministry’s Public Debt Directorate and the transfer of LL566 million to finance a project to improve the control and surveillance system at the runways and halls of Beirut airport.