Works Minister Dave Umahi has reacted to reports that there are cracks on some section of Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, recently inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Umahi said what was erroneously viewed as cracks on parts of the completed 30 kilometres were ‘’untreated sand-filled shoulders’’of the highway and not the main carriageway.
“These cracks are not on any section of the actual road. They appeared on the untreated sand shoulders and are the result of natural water erosion, ‘’ he clarified during a news conference in Abuja yesterday.
Umahi assured that “no completed section of the carriageway will crack once we complete the underground drainage and ducting systems.”
He also revealed that a new contract was being finalised by the ministry and the Lagos State Government to complete service lanes and integrate necessary drainage infrastructure on the Lagos section of the 700-kilometre coastal highway. The purpose, according to him, is to ensure long-term integrity of the project.
On bridge infrastructure, Umahi said that the Third Mainland and Carter bridges remained closed to heavy-duty vehicles until final technical evaluations.
“Over-height trucks have caused structural damage to several flyovers. To address this, we are designing reinforced gantries fitted with spikes, and increasing the clearance height from 5.6 metres to 6.5 metres to prevent further damage and ensure public safety,” he explained.
Giving an update on ongoing road projects, the minister stressed that a sweeping wave of infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction was underway across the country.