The Federal government has promised that the 2nd Niger Bridge will be partially opened for public use during the Yuletide period.
The announcement has already brought excitement to motorists who ply the ever-busy Asaba-Onitsha road regularly, as well as families that plan to travel on that route during the coming Yuletide period.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, broke the news Wednesday while fielding questions from State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa Abuja.
The minister said that the Federal government is favourably disposed to opening a section of the 2nd Niger Bridge partially for public use in December, to reduce the heavy traffic on the existing bridge.
“Considering the untold hardships commuters go through on the Asaba-Onitsha road especially on the old Niger Bridge during festive period like the Christmas and New Year, Federal government has decided to open one section of the 2nd Niger Bridge in December,” he said.
According to the minister, the Bridge is almost completed, although work is still on-going on the approach roads from Asaba end of the bridge, adding that works have been completed on the approach roads from Onitsha end.
He said traffic will be diverted to West-bound of the new bridge after the festivities.
He, however, said the entire 2nd Niger Bridge will be closed again t traffic immediately after the Yuletide, to enable the contractors complete the project and formally hand it over to the government.