Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, on Tuesday, pushed for accelerated reconstruction work on Shagamu-Benin-Asaba Highway.
The minister, who expressed satisfaction on the quality of construction work done between Shagamu- Iperu Junction in Ogun State, during an inspection tour, said the plan is to get a good stretch of the dual carriageway from Shagamu Interchange to Asaba in Delta.
While commending the contractor handling the highway from Shagamu Interchange to Iperu Junction for quality job, stretching 48 kilometers each at both sides, which is 96 kilometers, the minister spoke extensively about the 48 kilometers stretch of the expressway from Iperu junction to Ore, from there to Benin, and to Summit Junction in Asaba , which is being done with rigid pavement by a concessionaire, Messrs African Plus.
“So we want to get the good stretch of the dual carriageway from Shagamu down to Asaba.
“The little push is 11 kilometers by 2 from Summit Junction in Asaba down to the headbridge is being reconstructed with rigid pavement by Atlas.
“By next week, I will evaluate the job whether the concessionaire is working. If it’s not working, we will take decision, because we have terrible experience on the expressway last December,” the minister said.
From Shagamu to Iperu junction, the minister gave the contractor 100 percent credit for the quality of work , revealing that the contract sum is N187billion in order to get the job done.
He urged the contractor that where it has rigid pavement, it should also do the shoulder with laterite.
“It is called protective work. There must be protective work to the edge of the rigid pavement against water erosion.
“If there is a place to do drainage, go ahead and do it,” he said.
He also instructed the contractor to install solar lights immediately, urging that the project must be completed by the end of the month for phase commissioning.
“Next time I’m coming, I am coming to have it commissioned in phases,” Umahi said.
Section 1 of the contract involves the construction of flyovers and pedestrian bridges.
