AHEAD of today’s temporary opening of the Second Niger Bridge to traffic, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, accompanied by the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban), Mr. Noel Omodon, acting Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Resident Engineer for the project, Oluwaseyi Martins, Delta State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Bassey Esiet, and other top federal and state governments officials, inspected the palliative measures put in place to make the road more motorable.
Martins, while assuring travellers and motorists of smooth movement during the Yuletide, explained that the bridge would be open to traffic inward Onitsha-Owerri from midnight until January 3, when it would be open to traffic inward Asaba from Onitsha/Owerri till January 15, next year.
He also stated that the bridge will be fully lit at night during the period for the safety of users.
Speaking at the Oko by-pass (close to the beginning of the old bridge), Martins stated that the toll plaza would be open to connect the bridge all through the period of one month.
Fashola emphasised that the toll plaza would be open, but no toll would be collected, reminding the public not to pay any money to anybody at the plaza, as it remains free passage during the period.
On his part, Esiet assured that the corps would collaborate with all relevant agencies to avert the usual gridlock along the First Niger Bridge, adding that the temporary opening of the Second Niger Bridge was to ease the traffic load and ensure that travellers get to their destination on time.
He stressed: “From December 15, the Second Niger Bridge will be opened to vehicles coming from West to East through Asaba. However, from January 2, 2023, only vehicles coming from the East to West will be allowed to use the Second Niger Bridge.
“Members of the public are also informed that heavy duty trucks and trailers will not be allowed to use the new bridge.”
Esiet urged motorists to avoid speeding, overloading, use of unsafe tyres and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs to arrive alive during the season.
The Second Niger Bridge connects the Southeast with the South-South/Southwest through Onitsha, Anambra State and vice versa through Asaba, Delta State.
Every year, especially during the Yuletide, motorists and travellers to and from the Southeast are caught up in unprecedented traffic snarl due to the narrowness of the First Niger Bridge and the opening of the Second Niger Bridge is meant to ease the pain of commuters this season.
Since the access road at Delta State end linking the bridge is yet to be completed, the alternative, for now, remains the road at Oko, off the expressway, just before the old bridge inward Onitsha, which is narrow and with sharp bends.
To make the road better for the expected heavy traffic, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has constructed speed breakers on the road to reduce speeding by anxious motorists, while the approach to the toll plaza has been widened and tarred to connect the bridge itself.
Construction workers and security staff, yesterday, warned commercial motorcyclists (okada riders) to steer clear of the road from tomorrow until January 15 when the bridge will be open to traffic, as it would be one-way throughout the period.
Some of the workers took time to educate the okada riders on the need for them to keep off the road during the period to avoid accidents and crashes.
