By Our Correspondent in Lokoja
As the the Murtala Muhammed Bridge, Jamata in kogi state undergoes maintenance/rehabilitation, Engr. Jimoh Kajogbola, Federal Controller of Works in Kogi has appealed to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to provide a 70-ton towing vehicle on the bridge for quick removal of broken down vehicles.
Kajogbola told journalists on Thursday in Lokoja that the appeal became imperative in view of the frequent breakdown of articulated vehicles on the bridge and the attendant gridlock on the Lokoja-Abuja Highway.
The Controller further urged that such vehicle would have to be stationed on the bridge in standby mode in Jamata for the next two years that the on-going rehabilitation/maintenance contract work on the bridge would last.
“I enquired from the FRSC and discovered that the 50-ton Towing Vehicle stationed there now, though inadequate, belongs to Abuja and can be removed away any time,”he said.
According to him, the bridge which is currently under rehabilitatinon/ maintenance work, being handled by Hallekem Ltd., has only one functional 2-lane carriageway in use, adding that any breakdown of heavy duty vehicles would result in heavy gridlock.
The Controller,who disclosed that the appeal had gone to the FRSC headquarters said, “We are appealing to the Corps Marshall to grant and give the approval for the release the 70-ton towing vehicle which is currently in Port-Harcourt.
“Presently, the FRSC’s towing vehicle in Okene and the privately owned one in Geregu can only tow vehicles of about 50 tons and some heavy duty vehicles are heavier than they can tow.
“Whenever those ones breakdown on the bridge, Nigerians suffer to remove them because we have to separate the head from the rest of the trailer and carry them separately,” he added.
The Controller further said that he was approaching the problem in two ways, including working on the contractor to remove all the loose asphalt materials.
“Even if he cannot replace all now, he can cover the edges of the expansion joints and open the closed lane before the end of this month (October) and to close it back again after the New year.
“Secondly, I am working in synergy with the FRSC to ensure ease of movement on the single 2 lanes Carriageway in use on the bridge with the help of the standby towing vehicle,” he explained.
The Controller also appealed to motorists to be patient, resist temptation to drive against traffic and to keep their vehicles in good condition, to avoid break down.
