Oyo State Government on Saturday opened a wing of the dual carriageway Olodo bridge for vehicular movement. The government earlier in the week opened the path for pedestrians.

At a brief opening, Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof Dahud Sangodoyin, said the effort was to ease the stress of motorist in the axis, while construction works continues on the other side of the road.

He noted that the government will ensure the project is completed by the end of the year.

INTEGRITY NEWS reports that the bridge, which forms part of ongoing 35.6km Iwo road- Olodo bank Elesingodogbo – Odo Oba, links Oyo to Iwo, Osun state.

But a heavy rain in July, 2023 washed off the entire bridge, causing untold hardship to road users and motorists in the axis.

The situation led to the immediate award of a 2-20m span bridge across the Egberi river to relieve the existing 3m x 3m box culvert. It was awarded to Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concern Limited.

The Commissioner said the successful completion of the first half of the bridge will enhance seamless movement of people, vehicles, goods and services and also serves as a link connecting Osun State.

The major features of the bridge opened among other works, according to the commissioner are pilling works, construction of central piers, precast beams and slab, return/retaining wall, deck, parapet wall, approach slab and median.

Sangodoyin said “This is a further demonstration of this administration’s commitment to the delivery of dividend of democracy to all the nooks and crannies of the state without regard to the political inclination, religious affiliation or socio-economic group of our people.

“The need for construction of 35.6km Iwo road Olodo bank Elesingodogbo – Odo Oba (Oyo/Osun State boundary) was borne out of the passion of the current administration in Oyo state to concentrate energy on projects with potentials for expansion of the economy of the state and engineering a modern Oyo state.

“The economic importance of this 35.6km stretch road which links Oyo state to Osun state cannot be overemphasized. The road was awarded to Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concern Limited in September, 2022. The rehabilitation aspect of the road project involving the repairs of existing hydraulic structure and overlaying of the asphaltic surface had commenced in earnest after the award of the road project and is still on-going.

“However, the heavy rainfall of July 4th, 2023 in which Egberi river overflew its banks at Olodo area due to the inadequacy of the existing 3.0m x 3.0m single box culvert rendered the road impassable. The anguish and economic losses that the state and her citizenry incurred in the wake of the flooding event were better imagined than experienced.”

Speaking earlier, the contractor handling the project, Peculiar Ultimate Concern Limited, Engr. Adeleke Olanrewaju, thanked the residents of Olodo area for their patience and cooperation, explaining that the completed bridge is made up of three lanes to ease movement of vehicles.

He appealed to the residents and road users to always obey the traffic management guidelines put in place to avoid traffic congestion on the bridge.

Some residents of Olodo Bank Area, including the Chairman, Olodo Baale Quarters, Mr Adedeji Adebayo, Mrs Felicia Oyelakin, Miss Olajire Oluwatosin and Alhaji Afolayan Sikiru, expressed great relief on the opening of the first section of the bridge for pedestrian and vehicular movements.

They also appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde for the quick intervention, urging him to expedite action on the completion of the entire road project soon.

END.