The reconstruction of the collapsed Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway will be completed in 10 days’ time.
This was disclosed to the journalists by the Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah.
According to Mbah, the reconstruction began with palliative work on one lane of the bridge still standing to ensure it was ready for use within the next 10 days.
Mbah disclosed this when he and Works Minister David Umahi paid a pre-reconstruction visit to the site on Thursday.
“I thank Mr. President and the minister of works for the interest and the speed at which they have attended to this challenge that is before us.
“As we know, the minister was here to inspect and to identify areas of quick intervention the last time we came here, and I am happy now to announce that the minister has come to inform us again that work is going to start here on Friday.”
Mbah added, “There is going to be the repair of the existing lane, and hopefully, within the next 10 days, our people should be able to use one of the lanes. Effectively around the middle of next month, the full work on the bridges on both lanes will start.”
The Works Minister promised that “This week, we are going to do palliative work on the bridge.”
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The minister revealed that President Bola Tinubu released money for the palliative work in the 2023 Supplementary Budget. I know the governor is very eager to build the federal Enugu-Abakaliki Road. He has concluded the design and work will start in earnest. While he is doing that, we will be doing the flyover at the depot (Eke Emene) to complement it. Therefore, it is a partnership, and it is a healthy one,” Umahi explained.
Last month, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately begin the reconstruction of the collapsed bridge at the Enugu end of Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.
The Senate’s directive was sequel to the adoption of a motion at plenary on Wednesday.
The motion, treated under ‘urgent matter of public importance’, was sponsored by Sen. Osita Ngwu (PDP-Enugu) and co-sponsored by Sen. Victor Umeh (LP- Anambra), Sen.Kelvin Chukwu (LP-Enugu) and Sen.Okechukwu Ezea (LP- Enugu).
Ngwu, who in his lead debate, recalled the September 25 tragic collapse of part of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway flyover, however, noted that there was no human casualty.
According to him, the bridge which serves as a major link between the Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway for commuters from Port Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, and Abakaliki, also provides access to vehicular movement from Onitsha-Enugu Expressway.