Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi have annouced that the Federal Government would immediately commence rehabilitation of the collapsed Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway.
Umahi made the remarks while visiting the site of the collapsed bridge with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah as part of his working visit to the state.
He stated that the repair of the bridge will alleviate the burden of commuters on the route, and that the bridge’s collapse was sad, and that the government would provide other roads for the people in the meanwhile.
According to him, “We are going to look at the second bridge and see how far the remedial work will be done on it. We are going to scale up the reconstruction of the two bridges alongside the road construction.
“I want to assure you that I have directed the contractor to do everything possible to provide an alternative road.
“We are going to work on the second bridge to ascertain the integrity of the bridge and see if we can use it while we demolish the collapsed one and start the reconstruction.
“I believe the contractor is hearing us and the process will start immediately. I want to have a memo which I will send to Mr President.”
The minister added that the report and pictures of the collapsed bridge sent to him were the same with what he was seeing.
He explained that the collapse occurred because the pipes were exposed, adding that the bridge was constructed in 1968.
He assured the Enugu Government of his support, and thanked him for his initiative in dualising the Enugu to Abakaliki town road.
