Nigeria’s East-West Road Sees Major Revamp with Reinforced Concrete Technology
In a bid to end years of pavement failures and infrastructural neglect, the Federal Government of Nigeria has deployed reinforced concrete technology on the East-West Road in South-South Nigeria. The move is in line with the Renewed Hope agenda, which aims to provide all regions with the environment to attain their full economic potential and guarantee a sense of self-actualization among Nigerians.
The Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze Umahi, recently inspected the project sites at East West Road section II: Kaiama-Ahoada in Rivers/Bayelsa States, where he expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far. According to the minister, the FG has redesigned the inherited ongoing project using reinforced concrete technology to end perennial pavement failures and years of road neglect across the wetland Niger Delta.
The minister also highlighted that some sections of the East-West Road, starting from Lokoja to Benin, have been rescoped and redesigned in reinforced concrete, with the height of the road increased above the flood level. The redesign takes into account the peculiar environment, geomorphology, and soil characteristics, which were responsible for the failures of flexible pavement used by successive administrations.
The minister acknowledged that the impact of climate change has largely contributed to the flood that affected the road, but commended the two local contractors handling the relief culverts for their commitment to the intervention work despite not being paid. He urged the contractors to focus on completing the project and not to open more relief culverts, instead opting to work with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to contain the floods.
The minister also visited the KM 15 Section 3A of the East-West road, where he urged the contractor to re-mobilize at least six sections of the project to ensure timely delivery. He warned that if the contractor fails to meet the deadline, the other carriageway would be awarded to another contractor.
The minister reassured road users that a permanent solution is underway, with the project being procured to raise the road above the flood level and using reinforced concrete of 12 inches for the overlay. He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his commitment to fixing the inherited ongoing projects and backlogs of road infrastructure deficits nationwide, and called for patience and understanding from the public.
The East-West Road, which spans over 150 kilometers, has been a major concern for Nigerians, with many expressing frustration over the poor state of the road. The deployment of reinforced concrete technology is seen as a major step towards addressing the issues and providing a safer and more reliable transportation network for the region.
