The Federal Government is set to engage the concessionaire and other stakeholders over the deplorable condition of the Benin-Asaba Road, while also accelerating the reconstruction of the Carter Bridge in Lagos as part of efforts to improve critical road infrastructure across the country.
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, disclosed this while briefing journalists during an inspection of the Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge in Lagos, adding that he would lead members of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on works to inspect the Benin-Asaba Road and engage relevant stakeholders on measures to address the challenges affecting the project.
He said the engagement would involve the concessionaire, an independent engineer, the ministry’s legal representatives and the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Monday Okpebholo.
According to the minister, the poor condition of the Benin-Asaba road was linked to challenges surrounding the concession arrangement, noting that more than 30 kilometers of asphalt had been removed from the road before the concessionaire left the project site.
Umahi expressed concern over the hardship being experienced by motorists and other road users as a result of the condition of the Benin-Asaba Road, assuring that the Federal Government was taking steps to find a lasting solution.
He said the government was also addressing challenges affecting other critical roads across the country, including the Ifaki-Ado Ekiti-Kogi-Ekiti Road, which he said had been redesigned following a directive from President Bola Tinubu.
On the Carter Bridge, Umahi said the Federal Government was working to complete the reconstruction within 24 months, instead of the 36 months initially scheduled.
The minister said the 1.58-kilometre bridge had remained in use for more than 60 years with inadequate maintenance, resulting in serious structural deterioration.
He explained that an underwater survey revealed that several piles had detached from their pile caps, while rust, scouring and illegal sand mining had further contributed to the deterioration of the structure.
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Umahi said the government had completed a new design for the bridge, incorporating additional engineering features aimed at improving traffic flow, navigation and the long-term durability of the structure.
He said the new Carter Bridge would have additional ramps to ease congestion, while one carriageway would be constructed above the other. A cable-stayed section would also be introduced to provide sufficient clearance for navigation.
The minister said the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, had completed about 15 per cent of preparatory activities, including the establishment of the project yard and construction of access roads. He added that piling work was expected to begin before the end of the week.
Umahi said the Federal Government would also introduce protective measures, including gabions, to safeguard the bridge foundations from erosion and scouring.
He stressed that Carter Bridge could not be completely closed during the reconstruction because of its importance to traffic movement in Lagos.
The minister said the existing bridge would therefore be monitored and maintained throughout the construction period to prevent disruption to vehicular movement.
He also disclosed that similar intervention measures were being applied to the Third Mainland Bridge to extend its lifespan by another 50 years.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Olufemi Dare, said the contractor had mobilized to site and commenced the construction of access roads, while piling activities were expected to begin soon.
Dare also said work was progressing on the Iddo Bridge, where three failed spans had been replaced. He said drainage and Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement works were about 90 per cent completed and expressed confidence that the intervention would be completed within two months.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Mr. Akin Alabi, described the Carter Bridge reconstruction as long overdue and commended the Federal Government for prioritizing the project.
He expressed confidence that the completion of the bridge and interventions on other major road corridors would improve transportation, ease congestion and support economic activities across affected communities.
NAN
