Works minister David Umahi has called for redesigning the Abuja-Keffi Expressway to include a flyover to end the persistent gridlock on the Nyanya-Mararaba axis in Karu in Nasarawa.

Mr Umahi said this during the site inspection of the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Abuja-Mararaba-Keffi Road on Thursday.

The project is under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme handled by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited.

Mr Umahi urged the firm to develop the redesign within seven days, adding that it would help reduce the gridlock experienced on the road.

While noting that the work on the 43.56km road would be the rehabilitation of the dual carriageway, the minister said the road would be tolled after completion with various facilities to ease travellers’ journey on it.

“This road is very important. I want you to complete the road in 12 months, and as soon as we complete it, we will toll it. It will be added to the tolling of the Keffi-Makurdi, which is why the public-private Partnership people are here. We have directed that in this section, we will bring solar lights, CCTV and security at the service stations.

“I want the director in charge of the project to reach out to the governor of Nasarawa state so that we can acquire land within the corridor where we will build the service station and the toll gates.

“We will complete the redesign within seven days. Do not bring any laterite on the road; the road is stable, the pavement is gone, and we have to reinstate it. Our design is going to be one of the best because we are bringing certain construction materials to add to the strength of the stone base and the asphalt,” Mr Umahi said.

The minister added that the project funded by NNPC should have two construction sites, one located at the Mararaba section. He also said that the construction would mostly be at night to avoid disrupting vehicular movements.

“The traffic is high on the road and if we do anything during the day, it will inconvenience the people. I will be part of the supervision at night. We are considering a flyover in Mararaba because of the congestion in traffic.

“So I want us to study it in seven days to come up with a design of the location. We want before the middle of February to start the construction of a flyover there,” Mr Umahi said.

The project awarded on April 19, 2023, commenced on December 20, 2023, and will be completed in May 2026. 

(NAN)