Director, North-West, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. F.B. Esan (middle), Julius Berger Site Manager Engr. Mark Dixon, Julius Berger Project Manager Engr. Hakinese (behind), representative of the FRSC Mohammed Baba, and the representative of the District Head of Bebeji Alh. Tijani Abdullahi Kuki; and other community leaders at the road hand over ceremony at Bebeji last Thursday
The Contractor handling the engineering construction works of the important Abuja-Kano multi-state highway, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, on Thursday 6th February 2020 handed over to the government another completed portion of the project. The handing over is done in accordance with Clause 48 (2) (b) of the Standard Condition of Contract for Road Works and also in accordance with the procedure for partial handing over of works.
The partial hand over which was done to further ease the travel experience of motorists plying the road even as work progresses, occurred at work zone 11 located at Kwanar Dangora, in Gwarmai Town of Bebeji Local Government Area Kano State in Section III of the road which when fully completed connects Zaria town to Kano. Works completed within the portion handed over to the government consist of milling of the existing asphaltic surfacing;cement stabilization of existing subgrade; provision of 150mm Bitumen stabilized material; provision of tack coat; provision of 80mm binder course on carriageway using modified bitumen as directed. The completed works also include the provision of 40mm asphaltic wearing course using modified bitumen on carriageway as directed. Temporary road markings have also been installed for safety purposes.
The Federal government team at the hand over event was led by Engr. F. B. Esan, Director North-West, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. Engr. Esan who spoke at the event described the completed portion being handed over to the government by Julius Berger as “…a well-built road that can withstand any level of traffic.” Speaking to observed progress on the project, the Director also commended Julius Berger for the company’s total commitment to its renown good quality on the job as well as to its patriotic implementation of the planned schedule of works for the timely and successful delivery of the Abuja-Kano road.
Engr. Esan assured the communities present at the event and excited motorists who parked their vehicles to witness the travel-easing event that, the government being ever mindful of the need to maintain safety and convenience of both the communities and motorists directly affected by the ongoing works, will from time to time accept the hand over by the contractor of completed portions of the road, even as work on the rest of the road steadily continues. Speaking further Engr. Esan added that: “Everybody, including the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, is delighted with the steady progress being made by Julius Berger on the Abuja-Kano road works”.
Other important dignitaries at the event included traditional community leaders and senior officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission. Engr. Hakinese, the Project Manager for the Abuja-Kano road led the Julius Berger team to the event.
The Federal Government of Nigeria awarded the Abuja-Kano Road (AKR) project contract on the 2nd of January 2018 with a completion period of 36 months.
The project entails the rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, in the FCT, Kaduna and Kano States. There are three (3) sections in the project: Section 1 of the Abuja-Kano road starts at Zuba junction, Zuba and terminates at Kaduna western Bypass in the Kaduna State capital; section 2 of the project starts at Kawo Bridge junction in Kaduna State capital and terminates at Zaria; and section 3 of the road project connects Zaria town to Kano.
The Site Manager Engr. Mark Dixon explained that “…disruption of traffic due to blockage of one of the lanes to allow for construction works has resulted to discomfitting traffic jam because of the heavy traffic plying the road. To remedy the situation, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is handing over and opening up substantially completed portions of the road to the client (the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing) in order to alleviate the challenges of road users”.
