The Nasarawa State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to completing a major flyover and elevated-road project aimed at improving road safety, easing traffic congestion and reducing travel time along a critical section of the Abuja–Nasarawa corridor.
Dduring the inspection of the project, Mike Aldrich, Chief Executive to the Nasarawa State Governor, described the project as one of the administration’s legacy initiatives and said it was conceived primarily to address the persistent accidents recorded along the route.
According to Aldrich, the road section had become notorious for serious crashes, resulting in the loss of lives and property.
“This is the road that is born out of necessity. If you know the story of this particular section of this federal highway, it is a problem area that has recorded so many road crashes, very horrific ones,” Aldrich said.
He explained that the project forms part of the state government’s broader economic development strategy, noting that improved road infrastructure would open up the area for greater economic activity and development.
Aldrich said the project would also ease access to the numerous federal institutions, healthcare facilities and educational institutions located in the area.
The technical team handling the project explained that the original design had been expanded to accommodate additional safety features and improvements to the alignment.
The project includes an elevated road of approximately 2.6 kilometres, a flyover, connecting roads and five pedestrian bridges designed to allow residents to cross safely without having to navigate busy roundabouts.
The project officials said the improvements were necessary because of the challenging terrain and heavy traffic in the area.
The project was initially scheduled for completion within 80 months, but the contractor is now targeting completion significantly ahead of schedule.
One of the project officials said:
“The initial time frame was supposed to be completed within 80 months, but it is going to be completed before the 18 months.”
The official attributed the accelerated pace to the contractor’s capacity and commitment, as well as the regular release of funds by the state government.
The project is also expected to substantially reduce journey times between Abuja and parts of Nasarawa State. According to the project team, travel time could be reduced from more than two hours to less than 40 minutes once the project is completed.
The state government has, however, called for continued support from the Federal Government, particularly reimbursement for expenditure incurred on the project.
The project team said the state had committed substantial resources to the development and expressed hope that the Federal Government would reimburse the state in due course.
A resident who spoke on the project welcomed the intervention, recalling the frequent accidents previously recorded along the route.
Another speaker said the project would have a significant impact on the lives and economic activities of residents, particularly by improving safety and reducing travel delays.
“When we say life is safe, I just told you everybody said there was no accident that almost 45 people died,” the speaker said, stressing the importance of completing the project.”
The speaker commended both the Federal and Nasarawa State governments for the initiative and expressed optimism that the completed infrastructure would improve traffic flow and stimulate economic activities in the area.
The project is therefore expected to serve not only as a road-safety intervention but also as a major infrastructure investment capable of improving connectivity, supporting businesses and enhancing movement between Abuja and Nasarawa State.