Umahi orders safety checks, concrete work
By Egufe Yafugborhi
ASABA — The reopening of the 1st Niger Bridge has been delayed as the Federal Government ordered additional structural repairs and safety checks before the critical link between Delta and Anambra states is reopened to traffic.
The emergency rehabilitation, initially scheduled for completion within two weeks, was expected to end on September 21.
However, Minister of Works, David Umahi, who inspected the ongoing repairs yesterday, said the government would not reopen the bridge until major structural works had been completed.
“We apologise for the inconvenience to our people, but it is for their own good,” Umahi said, commending the governors of Delta and Anambra states for their support and the provision of alternative routes during the closure.
The minister said significant progress had been made on the repairs, noting that bolts removed from the bridge had been replaced and secured.
He also disclosed that a replacement for a damaged expansion joint had been manufactured and flown in for installation.
Commending the contractor, SKCC, for its work over the past 10 to 11 days, Umahi said the bridge would not be reopened until the required structural works were completed.
“We are not going to be stampeded into opening the bridge until the major structural work has been completed,” he said.
Among the additional directives issued by the minister were the painting of bridge kerbs and the carriageway, retouching of damaged sections and repainting of metal and steel structural components.
Umahi also directed the installation of additional solar lights and completion of the CCTV infrastructure.
“I have directed that additional solar lights be installed, CCTV setup be completed, and the connection link to the Second Niger Bridge be established immediately,” he said.
He further ordered an underwater inspection to determine the condition of structural components beneath the bridge.
“I have set up a committee to conduct an empirical evaluation of what is happening both below and above the water level under this bridge,” Umahi said, directing the committee to submit its report before the completion of the inspection.
The minister also ordered a change in the specification for the bridge approaches, directing that concrete be used instead of asphalt for 100 metres on either side of the bridge.
“We will no longer be using asphalt. You are to remove the existing layout and lay down concrete, our standard concrete,” he directed.
He explained that the decision was necessary because the adjoining section under SKCC’s scope was also being reconstructed with concrete.
Umahi said that after the bridge is reopened, one carriageway would be closed for 21 days to allow the concrete to cure before the process is repeated on the other carriageway.
“When we reopen the bridge, we will close one carriageway for 21 days to allow the concrete to cure properly, then open it and repeat the process on the other side,” he said.
The minister also ordered the removal of illegal advertisements from the bridge and directed that the structure be beautified, including the display of President Bola Tinubu’s photographs.
The initial two-week timeline for the emergency repairs on the bridge, popularly known as Onitsha Head Bridge, elapsed on Monday without the structure being reopened.
The extension of the closure means commuters and haulage operators will continue to use alternative routes while the additional repairs and safety checks are completed.
The post 1st Niger Bridge reopening delayed for more repairs appeared first on Vanguard News.