Iruoma Okpalaebubu
The Minister of Works, Dr David Umahi has stated that one of the carriageway of the reconstructed section of the East-West Road from Eleme Junction to Onne Junction in Rivers State would be ready for commissioning at the end of this month .
The Minister gave the assurance yesterday, when he inspected the road currently undergoing construction by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Inspecting the project, Minister Umahi expressed satisfaction with the quality of work being done by the contractor on the first carriage way.
He stated that he has directed the contractor to conclude with carriageway ahead of its commissioning at the end of this month.
Expressing Mr President commitment in ensuring all ongoing construction roads in the State and it’s environs are completed within stipulated period, the Minister said the project’s quality durability will last over 50-100 years without maintenance.
He said “I decided to pay a visit here and this is about my ninth visit on this project because of how important this project is to Mr President.
“This project is within a very serious economic corridor of Nigeria. We have a lot of facilities here, there is Indorama, the refinery, and a lot of other companies. So, this is very important and I am very happy with the quality of work being done.
“We have directed the contractor to wrap up this carriageway because it’s selected for commissioning in the next ten days and they have to do it day and night, and I am very confident that they will achieve it”.
Commending President Tinubu for his courage in the development of the country, especially constructing roads across States in the country, he said “Before, Nigeria was building roads but today, the President is constructing roads”.
Speaking further on the road, Umahi explained “I know that there are some sections that we earmarked for flyovers and bridges. I have directed them to use asphalt to complete that until when dry season comes and we can re-engage on the flyover. And that has been isolated as a separate item of the work.
“By June 1, 2025, they will go back to Onne to continue with the Port Harcourt-bound doing exactly what they have done on the Eket bound.
“The total value of the project is N156billion and it is 30 kilometers by four lanes. It has solar lights, we are going to inject CCTV, I am going to put tolling points and relief parks so that people don’t park on the road again. It’s going to be a beauty on earth when we finish.
“By December, the entire stretch of the road will be completed. So, Mr. President can elect to commission this carriage way now, as we are doing in all our projects within the six geopolitical zones.
The ones we have completed substantially, we commission or he’s left to say let the second carriage way be totally completed and in December, we can have an elaborate ceremony”, Umahi added.
The Minister also inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the Mbiama -Ahoada section of the East-West Road washed away by the devastating flood that occured in 2022 in the state.