At Last, Enugu Set To Have One Flyover Bridge

Posted by Ignatius Okpara Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, March 9th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – All is now set for the commencement of work in the first ever Flyover bridge project in Enugu metropolis.

The project to be sited at the popular T- junction, Nike road, in Enugu East Council area of the state, is embarked upon by the governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi led administration with a view to addressing the alarming traffic jam associated with the T- Junction axis which has being making life unbearable for motorists plying the road.

Construction firm handling the project IDC limited on Monday, assured the state government that work will commenced on Tuesday , March 9, as scheduled.

To this end, the state government has said the order announcing a shutdown of the road by midnight of today, March 8, stands.

Government officials led by the Commissioner for information, Barrister, Chidi Aroh, were assured by the company during a visit to the construction yard that it would

deliver the project before the end of 2021.

Aroh was accompanied by his Works counterpart, Hon. Greg Nnaji and that of Housing, Hon. Vitus Okechi.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after interfacing with the contractor, Aroh said all was now set for the project to commence in earnest.

According to him, Enugu people and indeed well meaning Nigerians were delighted over the project, which he said would ease vehicular traffic upon completion.

He said: “Today, we have seen the level of preparedness of IDC, the company that the government has contracted to do the T-Junction Flyover Bridge.

“I am sure that we are all aware that the government has as a result of this construction directed that the road be shut down from 12 midnight today to allow construction work to start in earnest.

“We have also reconfirmed from IDC their readiness to start full construction work tomorrow; you know construction is a process; when you start clearing, when you start moving in equipment, it is part of the construction process.

“Part of our responsibility is to once more inform the people that we are shutting down this road by 12 midnight; we have created five diversions; the announcements have been there in the radio; at the point of each diversion, we have put road signs; we are not stopping at that, we are going to put bigger billboards; we are going to ensure that our people don’t suffer too much while this massive work is going on.

In his remark the Commissioner for Works, Nnaji said the contractor had been fully mobilized and was ready for the take-off of the project.

“our responsibility in the next 48 hours is to ensure that work starts in earnest. Three links to T-Junction would be closed by 12 midnight today; part of why we are here is to see the preparedness of the contractor.

He added that “Over there, you can see the concrete blockages, by tomorrow the actual setting out will begin.

“The five designated lanes for diversion are on air, we will all make sure that this big project is realized; Enugu people are waiting, the word is waiting, it is a state-of-the-art bridge and we can’t wait any longer to have it.

“The state government has been very proactive in planning for this construction; mid last year, we commissioned the first by-pass, Nike Road by-pass, it is in anticipation that we will do this project.

” From just after Nike Road, you head to Umuchigbo, Harmony Estate layout, Adoration Pilgrimage Centre and Orie Emene, it is one of the major roads that will take traffic, especially articulated vehicles. We advise all articulated vehicles to take that route.

“Then, if you are coming from NOWAS, get to Zenith Bank, UBA, you go left, then at a Roundabout, you turn and hit Dental Technology, then you tee off to Bishop Shanahan, that is on the lext axis, you now meet Ugbene 2, Ugbo Ndafe, then to Local Government Headquarters.

“If you are also coming from the Timber, very close to where we are now, we have recently put some culverts to ensure that people pass, in anticipation that this project will go through; when you pass through that place, you go through Igwe Edward Nnaji Palace, you now come to the Development Centre, you take the Old Road, and still hit Umuchigbo.

“If you are coming from Abakpa Nike, Nike Grammar School, you cross the bridge, you come to St. Theresa, you tee off to the right, to Ogwuago, from Ogwuago you go down to Ugwuaku Layout, you are at the same Nike Lake Harmony bypass.

“The collector road, the main road that takes all the traffic, it was our pro-activeness to make sure that the road was done; you can now see the relevance, the vision of the Enugu State Government in doing things in order. That road was given a priority and it is now living up to expectations.

“We are appealing to our people to be patient with us; they should put enough care while passing through these roads; it is going to take some time but it is worth it.”

Also speaking, the project manager of IDC, Mr, Yussef said the company was fully ready to hit the ground running, assuring that, “we were awarded this project with the duration of one year, but we promise to do our best to deliver within less than one year for sure.

“We don’t want to reach the deadline; with the promise that the funds are available, for sure we will try to deliver before the end of 2021, we deliver projects on time; we have the machines; what you see here is a very small sample of what you will see in the next two weeks.”

Before visiting the construction company’s yard, the Commissioners had earlier took Journalists on a media tour to the ongoing Fit Consult Heliu, health Tourism district and residences , Enugu site.

The multi billion naira project which is being funded via loans /investors/ partners is executed by Fit Consult limited in partnership with the Enugu state government.

The information Commissioner, and his Works, and Housing counterparts had expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of work at the site.

Aroh, said the residency segment of the project is aimed at at addressing the housing deficit issue in the state .

In her speech, the Chief Executive officer CEO of Fit Consult, Chief Loretta Aniogolu, gave a run- down of the project highlights

She said when completed, the project which will house a 250 bed hospital, hotel, innovation / Tech Hub, Arts theatre, model primary school among others will be the first of its kind in South East Nigeria.