*Cautions against illegal parking, roadside market
By; BILIQIS ONAOLAPO OLAJUMOKE, ilorin
Kwara State Government has opened the second service lane of the Tunde Idiagbon Flyover in Tanke to ease the traffic along that axis.
The government had earlier opened one of the service lanes, but the second one was opened on Wednesday afternoon along with the tributary roads emptying into it as construction work ramps up on the imposing bridge.
State Commissioner for Works, Hon Abdulqowiyu Olododo stated this in Ilorin during a facility tour of the bridge and other road projects in some parts of the metropolis.
“This afternoon, we have opened the second service lane for ease of movement. Our people have actually shown us understanding throughout the cycle of this project and we thank them for that. Last two weeks or so, we opened the first service lane. Today, we have opened the second one. What is left on the project does not disturb vehicular movement”, he told reporters after the inspection visit.
“What is left is just road marking, painting of walkways and kerbs, which will be done at night. We have told the contractor to make provision for flood light to be able to work at night when there will be less or no vehicular movement.”
The Commissioner also said the flyover is 99% ready and will be opened very soon.
He said officials of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) recently certified that the flyover is safe for public use.
“A few weeks back when I was here, I said the project would be delivered by the first quarter of 2024. With what we have seen here, we can say that it is 99 percent completed because what is left are just road marking, painting of the walkways and Kerbs, which do not disturb the free flow of traffic,” he said.
“Two weeks back, we were here with the team of COREN (Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria) to ascertain the work we have done. Prior to their visit to the bridge, we held several meetings where they also verified the result of what we had done on the bridge, and they certified all the results.
“So, at the end of their visit to the bridge, they also certified that it was good to go. And more so, with the final work that we did on this bridge, we have seen a number of heavy-duty trucks that have been plying it. That goes to show you that the bridge is suitable for public use.”
Members of the public have commended the night view of the bridge, which has added beauty and class to the area, he added.
At the Adeta/Oloje road project which is ongoing, Olododo said the work has reached about 55 per cent, promising that the Ministry will ensure that the road is delivered by the end of March.
Speaking about the drainage system at Adeta/Oloje road project, the Commissioner said: “What we are doing is part of the runoff from Adeta drainage which is going to Adeta-Pakata Roundabout. Currently, the drainage we have at Adeta-Pakata Roundabout is about 0.6 meter, which we are expanding to 1meter, to be able to accommodate the large volume of water that will be coming from Adeta junction. And the one at Oloje too will also be taken care of to avoid flooding.
Fadi Khalil, the site engineer at the Tunde Idiagbon Flyover, said he and his team have been working on site to add beauty to the place, saying their intervention has nothing to do with structural work which he said is perfect.
“All we did centred around aesthetics and beauty of the bridge. In general, we didn’t do any work to fix any structural issue as there was none. Our work on asphalt and pavement is going to be concluded today,” he said.
Chief Resident Engineer at the Ministry of Works, Engr Sheu Ahmad Diku, who is supervising Adeta/Oloje road project, said they are currently laying the stone base; kerbs; and working on drainages.
“Stone base is very necessary because it will retain the asphalt, and ensure standard jobs are done. We make sure we compact the stone base properly,” he said.
Other places visited included the Abdul-Azeez Attah Road (Baboko), where the Ministry is also doing some repair and road extension works.
