Urine may cause bridge to collapse

[Cass]

A landmark bridge in Indonesia's Sumatra island may collapse because too many people are fond of urinating on one of its steel pillars, a report says.

Public works officials have found that the Ampera bridge, the landmark of Palembang city, has begun to lean on an angle and rocks slightly when traffic is heavy.

The Jakarta Post reports that an official at the public works department in Palembang, Azmi Lakoni, says the bridge has deteriorated because people often took a leak on one of its piers, corroding the structure.

"We are concerned that one of its main support piers has been weakened by urine, as it is a popular spot for locals to relieve themselves," Mr Lakoni told the newspaper.

He says that the acidic fluid's corrosive forces could attribute to an eventual collapse of the bridge.


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