Road users can now heave a sigh of relief after the Federal Ministry of Works ordered immediate repairs of the damaged deck of the Benin-bound section of the Sagamu-Benin carriageway.
In a statement released by Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, Uchenna Orji, on Tuesday, the ministry calmed the frayed nerves of Nigeria and assured road users of a swift and lasting solution to the damaged carriageway after a viral video revealed the extent of damage and untold hardship road users went through on the road.
The ministry revealed that it is actively following up on repairs and has dispatched a team of engineers to the site after the affected bridge, which has a double carriageway, suffered a visible puncture on the Benin-bound side within one of its five spans.
“The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed immediate dispatch of a team of engineers to the location of the damaged bridge at the border of Edo and Ondo States of the Shagamu-Benin carriageway,” the statement said.
“In line with the proactive approach to interventions by the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu GCFR, urgent action has been initiated on the damaged section of the bridge, and it will take a maximum period of 45 days after concrete works for vehicular movement to resume on that section of the carriageway to allow the concrete to mature.
It would be recalled that a similar incident occurred on one of the spans in the past, and it was repaired with dispatch,” the statement added.
The ministry attributed the damage to age-related deterioration, noting that the Shagamu-Benin bridge was constructed in 1981. “The damage being noticed on the said bridge is age-related deterioration. Bridges are susceptible to having their structures undermined as a result of old age.
The Shagamu-Benin bridge was built in 1981, and the bridge deck is ageing. The life span of a bridge can vary significantly based on several factors, including the materials used, environmental conditions, traffic loads, and maintenance practices. This overtime causes issues like punctures, cracks, corrosion, or structural weakness.”
Minister of Works, David Umahi, also assured that a permanent solution is underway for the Shagamu-Benin bridge, which is to remove the entire deck slab of the two sets of bridges in Ondo and Edo States, which are all within the same location, and rebuild the deck slab through innovative engineering technology.
”He apologises to the road users for the inconveniences they have suffered or will suffer during the period of the rehabilitation work. He assures that the Federal Ministry of Works shall work with the Federal Road Safety personnel to maintain traffic on one carriageway of the bridge during the period of the rehabilitation to avoid motorists getting stuck in a traffic jam,” the statement reads
