By Our Transport Correspondent
Following months of complaints by motorists plying the Calabar – Itu federal highway, the road has been rehabilitated CrossRiverWatch authoritatively reports.
CrossRiverWatch had reported in September that the Niger Delta Development Commission had begun the rehabilitation of the Highway with two contractors; Zenith construction handling repair work from Odukpani junction to Scanobo junction in Calabar axis while 3E Basse handled the Odukpani junction to Itu axis.
“The rehabilitation work may be completed however, the quality of work in the Odukpani junction axis up to Atan Ete Mbakara is poor and when you ply the road even in an SUV specially made for rough terrains, it easily reminds you of the work done by the contractor that handled the Goodluck Jonathan bypass in Calabar” says CrossRiverWatch transport editor upon return from a trip to Itu and back to ascertain the claim that the job had been completed.
He listed portions most likely to fail in a short time to include the National Integrated Power Project axis, Atan Ete Mbakara, parts of Creek Town, Okurikang and main Okoyong where he says the tarred surface is rough.
“But, the good news is this, on our return, we took a trip to Itam junction in Uyo where at exactly 6:03 PM we left and arrived Odukpani junction at exactly 6:53 PM with speeds of between 80KPH most of the time and 100 KPH in a 2014 model Toyota Hilux van.
“This is a clear contrast to June when it took no fewer than an hour and forty five or so minutes between the same stretch if traffic was light. The rehabilitation will aid the movement of goods and services during the yuletide when traffic will be heavy and when the rains set in, it will be de javu again if serious work is not carried out” he said.
Leave feedback about this