The Oyo State Government has opened a wing of the dual carriageway Olodo Bridge, in Ibadan, for vehicular movement, having earlier in the week opened the path for pedestrians.
At a brief opening ceremony on Saturday, the Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof Dahud Sangodoyin, said the effort is to ease the stress of motorists in the axis, while construction works continues on the other side of the road, noting that the government will ensure the project is completed by the end of the year.
The bridge, which forms part of the ongoing 35.6km Iwo Road-Olodo bank Elesingodogbo-Odo Oba which links Oyo to Iwo, Osun State, was completely washed off by a heavy rainfall in July, 2023, causing untold hardship to road users and motorists in the axis.
Sangodoyin said; “The economic importance of this 35.6km stretch road which links Oyo State to Osun State cannot be overemphasised. The road was awarded to Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concern Limited in September, 2022. The rehabilitation aspect of the road project involving the repairs of existing hydraulic structure and overlaying of the asphaltic surface had commenced in earnest after the award of the road project and is still on-going.
“However, the heavy rainfall of July 4th, 2023, in which the Egberi River overflew its banks at Olodo area due to the inadequacy of the existing 3.0m x 3.0m single box culvert rendered the road impassable. The anguish and economic losses that the state and her citizenry incurred in the wake of the flooding event were better imagined than experienced.”
The commissioner noted that the successful completion of the first half of the bridge would enhance seamless movement of people, vehicles, goods and services and also serves as a link connecting Osun and Oyo states.
He said; “the major features of the bridge opened, among other works are pilling works, construction of central piers, precast beams and slab, return/retaining wall, deck, parapet wall, approach slab and median.”
Sangodoyin said: “This is a further demonstration of this administration’s commitment to the delivery of dividends of democracy to all the nooks and crannies of the state without regard to the political inclination, religious affiliation or socio-economic groups of our people.”
“The need for construction of 35.6km Iwo Road Olodo Bank Elesingodogbo – Odo Oba (Oyo/Osun State boundary) was borne out of the passion of the current administration in Oyo State to concentrate energy on projects with potentials for expansion of the economy of the state and engineering a modern Oyo State,” the Commissioner explained.
The Contractor handling the project, Peculiar Ultimate Concern Limited, Adeleke Olanrewaju, thanked the residents of Olodo area for their patience and cooperation, explaining that the completed bridge is made up of three lanes to ease movement of vehicles.
He appealed to the residents and road users to always obey the traffic management guidelines put in place to avoid traffic congestion on the bridge.
Some residents of the Olodo Bank Area, including Mr Adedeji Adebayo, Chairman, Olodo Baale Quarters; Mrs Felicia Oyelakin, Miss Olajire Oluwatosin and Alhaji Afolayan Sikiru, expressed great relief on the opening of the first section of the bridge for pedestrian and vehicular movements.
The residents also appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde for the quick intervention, urging him to expedite action on the completion of the entire road project soon.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
