The President-Elect Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, 3 May commissioner the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The project commissioning ceremony was attended by dignitaries from outside and within Rivers State, including the Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Governors of Ebonyi, Jigawa, Imo, and Oyo, former Governors of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Ekiti, Governor-elect of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, as well as Ministers.
Providing the project description at the commissioning ceremony, the Commissioner for Works in Rivers State, Dr. George-Kelly D. Alabo, FNIQS maintained that Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover is longer than each of the other eleven flyovers constructed by the Wike-led administration in four years and has distinct features.
“This flyover is longer than the others, and it has distinct features. Whereas the other eleven flyovers are straight, this one has the shape of a parabola. We gave Julius Berger a completion duration of 10 months but they delivered the job in 8 months.
“This flyover is 1007.5 metres long. The transition has a total length of 250 metres, and a total width of 31.2 metres. It has a median of 750 millimetres. Off the bridge, we have a width of 14.6 metres, 7.3 metres on each lane.
“On the sub structure of the bridge, 217 nr 800 millimetre-diameter continues flight auger piles driven to a point of no refusal of 22.5 metres. Each of these piles are reinforced with reinforced concrete, these piles form the foundation of the bridge, each of the grouping of the piles are in 21 spans, each of the spans has 8 beams.
“We have 168 prestressed reinforced concrete beams launched, each of the beams has 2 elastomeric bearings, making it a total of 326 elastomeric bearings to absolve vertical compression and accommodate vertical movements due to expansion.
“On the transition, we have soil replacement of about 750mm thick, we have stone base of 200mm thick, 60mm binder course and 40mm wearing course,” the Commissioner added.
In his remarks, Rivers State Governor, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike thanked the President-elect for honouring the invitation of the state government to commission the project.
Governor Wike also informed the Special Guest of Honour and his entourage that Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover is the 12th flyover constructed by his administration in four years.
“Mr President-elect, I want to sincerely thank you for honouring our invitation to commission this project.
“Your Excellency, you have heard from the Commissioner for Works, a vibrant young man who is a Fellow of The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors when he said this is the 12th flyover we have constructed since 2019,” the Governor added.
On his part before commissioning the project, President-elect, H.E Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended Governor Wike for the good works he has done in Rivers State.
The President-elect described Governor Nyesom Wike as a dependable man with good character.
“If you talk of good character, Governor Nyesom Wike has it, he is very dependable. In His Excellency Governor Wike, I see a man of principle and integrity. I commend him for the good works he is doing in Rivers State.
“I feel so honoured to be in your midst today. The construction of this flyover and my invitation to commission it make me very happy, the President-elect added.
