Traffic: FCTA to open up more roads within Abuja

In order to solve the protracted traffic congestion in some of the roads within the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Wednesday, announced its readiness to open up more roads, even those still under construction.

It said the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, has continued to reinforce his commitments towards bringing sustainable solutions to disturbing traffic problems.

Chairman, Ministerial Task Team on Traffic Management, Ikharo Attah, made this known during the inspection of the on-going Inner Southern Park Carriageway projects.

He noted that the road stretch from AYA junction, connecting from Nyanya and Maraba, leading to Area One (1) and other parts of the city would soon be opened to motorists.

According to him, even though the roads have not been fully completed, the minister has approved that the contractors hasten the asphalt laying on the roads so that it could be opened to ease the traffic from Nyanya axis.

“This interchange is a very sensitive portion of the roads because it distributes traffic coming from Nyanya axis that is having heavy vehicular traffic on a daily basis. Those who try to connect Area one, via Ecowas secretariat and Power House junction, may not need to go through that way once these links are opened up.

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“We are cutting down the traffic man-hour to the point of saving about 4 to 11 minutes. This may not be final finishing, but the road has to be opened to enable commuters and motorists coming from the Nyanya axis have some relief”, Attah added.

Earlier, the Engineer in charge of the project, Engineer Richard Dauda, confirmed that the interchange of the Inner Southern Carriageway would be opened in line with the directive of the minister.

“This road starts from AYA junction and stretches to where we refer as the Southernpark way, by the National Christian Centre, another segment of the roads also extends to Galadimawa junction.

“The progress of work is such that all the bridges have been completed, they are eight bridges in four different locations. Work is still in progress, but to ease traffic for those coming from Nyanya axis, the interchange will soon be opened for them. FCT Minister is very keen about resolving traffic gridlock within the city. Within the next two months, the road should be opened,” he added.

The representative of the contractor handling the project, Mr Gennaro D’Itria, stated that the roads can be ready for motorists if the funds needed could be provided.

“We are ready to complete the works, according to schedule. We need about N500 million to finish up this segment and another N1.5 billion to complete the whole projects. As the engineer here I can tell you that if the funds are available we can complete the whole project within 4 months,” he stated.