•To spend N800m on project
By Igoniko Oduma / Correspondent, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State government has commenced reconstruction of the collapsed Imiringi Bridge in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state which was destroyed by the devastating floods of 2012.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ewhrujakpo, disclosed this in Yenagoa during the inspection of ongoing projects in the state.
The government is reconstructing the deplorable bridge at N800 million about two years after it promised to do so.
The bridge links several communities in the area, providing access for them to the state capital, Yenagoa.
Ewhrudjakpo lamented the damage caused by the massive flooding, stressing that rebuilding the bridge was necessary to restore accessibility to communities in the area.
“It is a major project that government wants to make sure we complete because we know what Imiringi people have been suffering”, he said.
“The idea of doing the bridge is to make sure that these people have more direct access and free movement of their goods and services between the community at Imiringi here and at Otuasega there.
“From six to seven months, they will be through with this bridge. Our target is that before next year, May/June, people should be able to drive on this place.
“The cost of this project, I think, this one is going for about N800 million because it is about 130 metres spans now.
“It was supposed to be120 metres but now I made it 130 because of the additional 10 metres that I’ve asked they should add because of the reinforcement.
“As you can see the erosion is already affecting the other side of the reinforcement and that was what happened in this case that we lost the bridge.
“So, if we don’t give enough space to the riverine, what will happen is that we still have to run into that problem again. So, I have added another 10 metres”, he added
Other projects inspected by the commissioner were the House Officers’ Quarters at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yengoa, New Secretariat Annex 1, Igbogene-AIT Road, and Cargo Airport, among others.
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