The Kratie provincial authority temporarily banned heavy trucks from passing part of National Road 73 to avoid accidents, after flooding caused a riverbank collapse at Peamte bridge, located between Chitr Borei district and Kratie town. In an announcement to bridge users obtained by The Post on Tuesday, the provincial hall said a riverbank collapsed at Peamte bridge last Wednesday, causing one of its concrete pillars to slant. The riverbank collapse was caused by receding waters after the flood sank 22.73m of the riverbank area on October 23. “So to maintain safety for your trips and avoid any unexpected accidents, the provincial hall has temporarily banned all kind of heavy trucks from passing the Peamte bridge since the evening of October 29,” the announcement read. Provincial governor Var Thorn said on Tuesday that some parts of the riverbank collapsed after the floods receded. This included the area at Preamte bridge, where a pillar has slanted by some 40cm. He said after experts examined the site, he ordered traffic access for heavy trucks weighing from one tonne up to be closed to facilitate repairs to the bridge. However, other vehicles like cars, motorbikes and bicycles could pass the bridge as usual. “I will send a report to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport so that they can send an expert team to run a detailed examination and repair the pillar. The local authorities cannot repair it,” he said. He said that Peamte bridge is the only access point for traffic in the area with no detour options. Chitr Borei district police deputy chief Un Narith expressed worry that the Preamte bridge would collapse if heavy trucks used it. Kratie provincial Department of Public Works and Transport director Sang Bunthen could not be reached for comment.