The Federal Government says it will construct a new cable-supported bridge at the Carter Bridge corridor as part of a long-term plan to improve navigation and modernise infrastructure in the area.
Minister of Works Dave Umahi disclosed this while explaining ongoing maintenance and reconstruction plans for the existing bridge.
Mr. Umahi said the government recently resurfaced the current bridge and installed solar lights and lane markings, despite criticism from some people questioning why major repairs were being carried out ahead of a planned replacement project.
“They said, if you are going to kiss somebody by firing squad, why are you paving the road and putting all kinds of beautiful decoration,” the minister said.
“But the truth is that we are keeping that bridge and maintaining it. Even the underwater elements are being maintained every week.”
The minister said the government is taking “an entirely new route” to rebuild the bridge and revealed that remnants of an older bridge constructed in the early 1960s still remain underwater because they were never evacuated after demolition.
According to him, the new structure will feature two 105-metre spans supported by cables to improve maritime navigation.
“It will be a beauty to behold,” Mr. Umahi said. “The 105-metre span is going to be on rope. It’s going to be a rope bridge, two of it, to improve navigational movement.”
He said the project would cost N548 billion under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Finance arrangement.
Mr. Umahi explained that the Federal Government would provide 30 percent counterpart funding, while the contractor would source the remaining 70 percent through external financing.
He added that the project’s pricing structure would follow rates already used on the coastal highway project, which he described as “quite commendable.”
The minister said construction details and the official starting point of the project would be unveiled during a visit to the site within the next two weeks.
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