The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi has insisted that the Ore–Ondo–Akure Road was designed to meet global engineering standards and will stand the test of time.
Umahi on Thursday in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area, during an inspection of the project handled by the contractor. He was represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Ondo State, Engr. Olajide Hussein.
He explained that all contractors working on federal road projects adhere strictly to engineering designs and specifications provided by the ministry.
The Ore–Ondo–Akure Road, he said, spans 86.43 kilometres and is designed with a standard 7.3-metre main carriageway on each side and 2.75 metres for the shoulders. The project has a completion period of four years.
Responding to a viral video that questioned the use of wire mesh on the outer shoulders, Umahi provided technical clarification. He said there is a functional and structural difference between the main carriageway and the outer shoulder of a road.
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“The main carriageway is the central part of the road pavement and is designed to withstand continuous and heavy traffic loads, including trailers, trucks, and buses. It experiences high flexural stresses and therefore requires heavy reinforcement,” he explained.
“The outer shoulder, however, carries only occasional loads, such as when vehicles break down, divert traffic, or make brief stops. For this reason, it is constructed with lighter reinforcement.”
The minister described the use of A142 wire mesh on the outer shoulders as a globally accepted practice, stating that it aligns with both Nigerian and international highway standards.
“It is not peculiar to the Ore–Ondo–Akure Road. All single carriageway rigid road constructions across the country use similar designs. The light wire mesh is standard for shoulders because they do not bear constant axle loads,” he emphasized.
Umahi reaffirmed his earlier assurance that the new road would last for at least 50 years. He said the ministry continues to monitor the project closely and is satisfied with the quality and progress of work so far.
He restated the ministry’s commitment to delivering durable, safe, and cost-effective road infrastructure across Nigeria, emphasizing that quality control remains a top priority in every ongoing project.
NAN
