Holiday Travel: 2nd Niger Bridge improves traffic flow by 40 percent –FRSC

*The Federal Road Safety Corps affirms the Niger Bridge in Onitsha is critical to vehicular traffic, especially during the Christmas and New Year festivities, as Anambra State is the gateway state to the South-East and the South-South geopolitical zones of Nigeria

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Following the recent temporary opening of the historic road infrastructure ahead of the festive season in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) discloses the bridge has reduced pressure of traffic flow on the old bridge by over 40 percent.

Mr. Adeoye Irelewuyi, Sector Commander of FRSC, in Anambra State, stated this at the weekend in Awka, the state capital.

Irelewuyi said the decision of the Federal Government to temporarily open the new bridge to traffic was a welcome and timely gesture.

He noted the opening of the facility had greatly eased pressure on the old Niger Bridge.

The Sector Commander of FRSC said that the Niger Bridge at Onitsha had been critical to vehicular traffic, especially during the Christmas and New Year festivities since Anambra is the gateway state to the Southeast and the South-South geopolitical zones.

When small vehicles are diverted from the old bridge, the FRSC chief stated that about 40 percent of traffic on it would have been diverted, thereby reducing the gridlock.

He said: “The bridge is just 1.1km which should take a motorist moving at 50km per hour to cross it within two to three minutes.

“Before now, motorists spent between 12 hours and 18 hours on that bridge; the maximum time spent on the bridge now is 30 minutes.”

He further stated: “One of the strategies is that vehicles are now compelled to move in one lane in opposite directions, it could be slow but it is steady.”

Hitherto, travellers to the South-East through the popular Niger Bridge used to spend between 12 hours and 18 hours to cross from Asaba, Delta State capital, to Onitsha and vice-versa because of gridlocks.

That situation resulted from the daily volume of traffic and checkpoints at both ends of the bridge and activities of touts and street urchins.

Managing traffic around 2nd Niger Bridge

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Works, Anambra and Delta States, and security agencies in the West African country have formed a committee working towards decongesting traffic around the Niger Bridge.

Irelewuyi said the committee ensured that all factors which inhibited the free flow of traffic were removed as much as possible.

He as well explained: “Loading of passengers around the bridge is no longer possible.

“We have three big tow trucks permanently stationed around the bridge to facilitate quick removal of broken down vehicles and clear the road.”

Irelewuyi, therefore, assured motorists of the FRSC’s commitment to ensuring that travellers encounter less stress on their journeys in and out of Anambra State.

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