[dropcap]A[/dropcap]fter the first Niger Bridge construction which was commissioned by Alhaji Tafawa Balewa was opened for traffic on December 1965, another Bridge construction which is the second Niger Bridge is currently going on at Asaba, Delta State.
The second Niger Bridge is a federal government project which was initiated under the administration of Goodluck Jonathan and is being sustained by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Second Niger Bridge is located at Asaba and linked from Asaba to Onitsha. It has a length of 1.6km, 10.3km highway, a toll station and Owerri interchange.
The 2nd Niger Bridge crosses the city of Onitsha (East, Anambra State)and Asaba (West, Delta State).
The Bridge consists of three phases namely
1. West Approach
2. East Approach
3. Main Bridge
Asaba and Onitsha are located at major East-West crossing point of the River Niger. Asaba on the West bank and Onitsha at the East bank.
The project is worth approximately #336 Billion and is currently maintained by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. It is being handled by a Public Private Partnership, Julius Berger Plc.
Julius Berger has given assurance that the project will be completed on February 2022.
According to Engr. Wieser, the Julius Berger project manager for the work, they have mobilised over 1000 workers and heavy machineries to effect project delivery at due time.
This project proceeded on September 2018 but with a lesser effect but it is currently and speedily developed and expected to be finalized on February 2022.
Hopefully, on completion of the construction, traffic congestion will be minimized and there will be an ease of traffic and a better road safety for road users.
More pictures of the on-going 2nd Niger Bridge Construction.