Motorists Worried As Erosion Threatens Goodluck Jonathan Bridge

Motorists have expressed concern over the erosion threat at the ‘Ekole Bridge’ named after President Goodluck Jonathan in the Swali area of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.

The bridge, inaugurated in 2009 by Jonathan as Vice President, links some communities across the Nun River, including Akaba, Ogu, Ogbogoro and Anyama-Ijaw.

The deteriorating condition of the bridge is a source of worry to motorists and motorcyclists plying the route, a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the bridge head on Wednesday, reports.

A motorcyclist, Mr. Okon Ekpo, told NAN that one of their colleagues narrowly escaped death when he fell into a ditch by the bridge head.

An Engineer who pleaded anonymity, also told NAN that the condition of the bridge posed a threat to lives because of the ongoing trade there.

Reacting to the situation, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Emmanuel Frank-Opigo, told NAN on telephone that the state government had initiated action to curb the erosion threat and that a permanent solution was under way.

NAN reports that the government had deposited sand bags as a temporary measure.

The bridge project was awarded to Julius Berger in 2007 at the cost of more than N4 billion.