Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, has resumed the maintenance works at Kaduna Western Bye-Pass.
Gatekeepers News reports that Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has resumed maintenance works along Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, otherwise known as Kaduna Western Bye-Pass.
The Chief Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer, Kaduna Field Office, Dr Atiku Sadiq, in a press statement, said this was part of the agency’s mandate to ensure Nigerians enjoy a smooth and safe drive on the roads across the country.
Sadiq, in the statement, said, “the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, which is a 24kilometres stretch, carries a large volume of traffic including articulated trucks plying the route from the Federal Capital Territory Abuja to several other states in the North-Western part of the country.”
According to him, “the large volume and vehicular traffic overstretched the road, leading to critical failures at several sections locations. Until recently, the entire stretch was in a terrible condition with several critical failed sections, deep potholes, and cracks of various sizes.”
He said this consequently made road users and communities along the road experienced untold hardship, which eventually resulted in an overwhelming public outcry.
Sadiq stressed that in response to the laments of citizens, FERMA awarded two contracts for the general repairs and maintenance of the road.
According to him, the first contract was awarded to HIKAM ENGINEERING LTD and has been executed between January and March this year, noting that all the critical failures and deep/shallow potholes between 0 and 15 kilometres (i.e. Mando to Bakin Ruwa on both bounds, were eliminated at the end of this contract.
He added that the section was made pothole-free, and the motorists were given a smooth ride.
Sadiq stated that the second contract, which commenced in April and is currently ongoing, was awarded to BEANTOWN NIGERIA LTD.
This will cover the remaining part of the road that could not be covered by the former contract, stressing that the objective is to get the road rid of potholes and other failures by the end of July 2021.
He acknowledged that the agency’s “Kaduna Office is aware of the inconveniences caused by the current maintenance operations along this road.”
“Our office has taken all the necessary measures to minimise the impact of our works on the public. We have put in place adequate safety measures to prevent accidents before and during this exercise. However, our goal of achieving accidents free exercise.”
Sadiq noted that all these could not be achieved without the support of the members of the public.
FERMA, therefore, implored the motorists and pedestrians to kindly observe traffic rules and obey caution and diversionary signs put in place by the agency’s teams at various locations during the maintenance activities.
The agency also urged motorists and commuters to be patient and understanding adding that, “the inconvenience though regrettable is unavoidable if safer, smooth and better quality roads are to be provided to the public.”