Relief is underway for motorists as the federal government has swooped into action on the urgent repair of the damaged deck of the bridge on the Benin-bound section of the Shagamu-Benin carriageway.
The Federal Ministry of Works, in a statement obtained by BusinessDay on Tuesday, says David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has directed immediate dispatch of a team of engineers to the location of the damaged bridge at the border of Edo and Ondo States.
The statement explained that the bridge, which has a double carriageway, got visibly punctured at the Benin-bound section within one span of its five spans.
“Urgent action has commenced on the damaged section of the bridge, and it will take about 45 days after concrete works for vehicular movement to resume on that section of the carriageway. This is to allow the concrete to mature,” the statement signed by Uche Orji, Special Adviser to the Minister on Media, said.
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Orji recalled that a similar incident had occurred in the past on the bridge on one of the spans, and it was repaired with dispatch.
“The damage noticed on the said bridge is age-related. Bridges are susceptible to having their structures undermined as a result of old age. The Shagamu-Benin bridge was built in 1981, and the bridge deck is aging.
The life span of a bridge can vary significantly based on several factors, including the materials used, environmental conditions, traffic loads, and maintenance practices. This overtime causes issues like punctures, cracks, corrosion, or structural weakness,” Orji explained further.
The minister has, however, assured that a permanent solution is underway for the bridge, which involves removing the entire deck slab of the two sets of bridges in Ondo and Edo States, all within the same location, and rebuilding the deck slab through innovative engineering technology.
He has also apologized to road users for the inconveniences they have suffered or will suffer during the period of the rehabilitation work, assuring that the ministry will work with the Federal Road Safety personnel to manage traffic effectively while the repair work lasts.
The minister disclosed that there are over 30 bridges receiving rehabilitation attention nationwide in 2025 alone, adding that this rehabilitation will be done urgently.
He commended the content creator who raised the alarm on the damaged section of the bridge, and also appreciated the content creator’s understanding of the modest efforts of the federal government to transform the road infrastructure and expand the transportation ecosystem to stimulate economic growth.
