Failed Portion Of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway To Be Completed Next Week – Julius Berger

Akinwunmi-Ambode-on-Apapa-Oshodi-ExpresswayThe construction company handling the failed portion of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., on Tuesday disclosed that the ongoing rehabilitation of the Barliet to Ilasa section of the road, will be completed next week.
Recall that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State mobilized the firm to site in May following public outcry over the hardship experienced on the dilapidated portion of the road.
The portion of the road was made worse by gullies, indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the median of the highway, which blocked the drainage and created no outlet for water to flow.
However, a visit to the site on Tuesday by correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, indicated that construction activities, including grading, asphalt lay, earth works and reconstruction of drainage channels were going on simultaneously.
The development made the construction zone a beehive of activities with different earth moving equipment, rollers, pavers and trucks working on various stretches of the road on the Oshodi bound carriageway.
A Julius Berger engineer at the site, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the firm was carrying out emergency repairs on the highway.
“This is not a contract but an emergency repair being undertaken by the Lagos State Government.
“We have worked on 1.5 kilometres of road so far and we are also reconstructing this drainage channels that have collapsed.
“We have been on site for about three weeks and should complete the work in a week’s time from now.
“We have no challenges because we have been able to deploy adequate manpower and equipment to site”, he said.
Also, an authoritative source in the Federal Ministry of Works told NAN that the ministry was working with the firm on the project.
“It is the governor that directed Julius Berger to carry out the work and we are supportive.
“It is our road and Lagos State Government needs our permission for access”, the source said.