Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has said the Federal Government will reconstruct the collapsed overhead bridge in Garki on Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway, Enugu State which collapsed during the week.
Umahi stated this when he inspected the bridge with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah.
A section of the bridge had few days ago collapsed causing blockage of the road.
Umahi who received the information on the bridge, visited the scene Thursday, about 48hrs after it collapsed.
He was accompanied by Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi of Ebonyi Central Zone, Directors of Federal Ministry of Works, contractors and other officials of the ministry.
Umahi first visited Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah immediately he arrived the state. Mbah followed the minister to inspect the bridge.
The Minister said integrity Test would be conducted on the axis of the bridge that didn’t collapse to know if it can serve as alternative route on the expressway following the collapse of the bridge.
He assured that President Bola Tinubu will intervene on the bridge as soon as possible
Mbah while speaking with journalists after inspection of the bridge said, “I want to thank the Minister of Works for his prompt response. This for me underscores the President’s commitment.
“When he took oath of office, he committed to lead with compassion, he also committed to run an all inclusive government and this is what we are seeing today.
“We had reached out to the Federal Government immediately this happened. This is a major gateway road. So, I cried to the Federal Government and said look, we need to do something and expeditiously.
“And here we are today. Within 48 hours, the Minister of Works is right here with us to carry out an inspection and we are here proffering solutions as to how we can at least get one section of the bridge to continue to accommodate our people.
“So, there is going to be an integrity test as the Minister has said on the section of the bridge that has not broken and once that the integrity test shows that we should be using that section of the bridge, we will be using that section.
“But they will spare no time in starting work on the aspect that collapsed. The Minister is here, he has contractors with him. They want to swing into action immediately. So, we are truly pleased with the action taken so far by the Minister and indeed the President.”
