Julius Berger, RCC resume work on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project
Two construction
giants — Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) —
have returned to site to resume work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Reconstruction and rehabilitation works on the
highway were suspended due to some issues with the Federal Government which
include funding. A correspondent, who took a trip on the highway on Saturday,
reports that officials of both Julius Berger and RCC were seen moving heavy
equipment to sites with their men already mobilised to work on the various
sections. Investigations revealed that Julius Berger began work on Friday,
while RCC moved to site on Tuesday.
Piles of crash barriers at Wawa, which is
part of Section one from Lagos to Sagamu interchange, being handled by Julius
Berger. Also, officials of Julius Berger were seen using earth moving equipment
to carry crash barriers to demarcate construction zones.
An engineer, who did
not want to be named, said that the demarcation was for effective traffic
management. “The New Jersey Barricades (crash barriers) will be moved to the
other carriageway when we finish work on this side, it will speed up our work
and at the same time help to traffic control,’’ he said.
On Section two of the
project which spans from Sagamu interchange to Ibadan, RCC surveyors were seen
on site, while earth moving equipment were scarifying some sections of the
road. A surveyor, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told NAN that
survey works to determine heights and depths of the highway along Km 91 on the
expressway had been on for two days.
“We have covered one kilometre so far.”
Also, officials of the firm were seen deploying their equipment at Alomoja to
grade the road. An official said:”We are grading, then we will remove the
rubbish and give the road stone base and mill the road.” Work was in progress
around Oni Garri, close to the Ibadan old toll gate and other sections of the
highway.
A Federal Ministry of Works official, who was monitoring resumption of
work on the road, expressed satisfaction with the prompt compliance of the firms
to return to site. “Serious work has begun and hopefully by Monday laying of
asphalt will begin on the second section.”
The rehabilitation of the
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was awarded in 2013 at a total cost of N167 billion by
the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
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