Road Construction: No Concrete Layout, No Deal, Works Minister Umahi Tells Contractors

Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Tuesday, disclosed that on his watch there will be no contract award for road construction without concrete layout. Umahi said this in Lagos during an inspection tour of Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Ojota road as part of his tour of some roads in the state and other states within the South-west.

A statement by the Director of Information, Press and Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Works, Blessing Lere-Adams, said the minister expressed satisfaction with the job done and noted that the road was about 99 percent done, except for some finishing touches.

He wondered why some contractors were against the more durable and cost-effective use of concrete technology, that is the use of cement for road construction, despite its advantages over bitumen.

According to the minister, bitumen is more expensive and less durable, a situation he attributed to the fact that the bitumen produced in recent times were of low quality.

The minister noted that despite the high number of heavy trucks that plied the road, it was still without defects, adding that if it was an asphalt road it would have started failing and developing faults.

Umahi challenged contractors averse to the construction of concrete roads to come to Oworonshoki road to see an example of its advantage over asphalt.

At the Apongbon Bridge, the minister lamented that some people were trading and selling chemicals under the facility. He noted that this resulted in the fire outbreak early in the year that caused huge damage to the bridge.

Umahi also expressed the government’s determination to rehabilitate the bridge as soon as possible and install solar lights.

While at Iponri section of the Eko Bridge, Umahi called on the Lagos State government to urge the people using the premises under it to clean and beautify the surroundings.

At the Porto-Novo Liverpool roundabout bridge, the minister directed the Director, Design and Bridges, Adesanya Awosanya, to send the report on the structural defects on the bridge and other bridges that had similar problems to his office.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

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