Flood: Oyo Govt to replace Olodo culvert with 2-span bridge
The Oyo State Government has assured residents of Olodo and its surrounding areas that it will replace the culvert currently under construction with a 2-span bridge to address the issue of recurrent flooding.
Mr. Rotimi Babalola, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, made this announcement in a statement released on Wednesday in Ibadan.
The culvert on the road was washed away following heavy rainfall in the state last week.
Engineer Tajudeen Raji, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, addressed the residents of Olodo road and its environs, assuring them that proactive measures are being taken to replace the inadequate culvert.
During an inspection of the flood site, he noted that the additional 6×4 culvert currently under construction has not been properly channeled, leading to flooding in the adjacent areas.
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As a result, the Oyo State government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, has decided to replace the culvert with a 2-span bridge.
Engineer Tajudeen Raji stated, “The existing culvert and the additional culvert under construction could not accommodate the volume of water, resulting in spillover and disruptions to traffic flow. Therefore, we have planned to replace the existing culvert with a 2-span bridge to contain future heavy rainfall and prevent undesirable flooding.”
The Permanent Secretary further explained, “After conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the bridge site, we concluded that a 2-span bridge, with each span measuring 15 meters, would be the most suitable solution. This design will allow water to flow freely, regardless of the volume, thus preventing flooding in the area.”
He assured the community and road users that the contractor is aware of the residents’ complaints and has committed to expediting the construction work. Despite being in the rainy season, the contractor has promised to accelerate the project to ensure timely completion.
Engineer Raji appealed to the residents for patience and reassured them that the Oyo State Government is taking proactive action to prevent future occurrences.
Additionally, he emphasized Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde’s commitment to the welfare and economic rejuvenation of the state’s citizens.
The Oyo State government aims to expedite the construction works to ensure prompt completion of the project.
Mr. Eleta Israel, the Project Manager at Peculiar Ultimate Concern Limited, stated that with the approval to replace the culvert with a bridge, the project will be ready soon.
In the meantime, palliative measures, such as filling potholes and expanding the construction area, have been implemented to alleviate traffic congestion.
