Second Niger Bridge: Contractor Moves To Site

Construction giant, Julius Berger, has mobilized to site to commence the construction of the long  awaited Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha,  Anambra State.
The presence of the construction giant at the  foot of the Niger Bridge within the Onitsha axis and the berthing of several barges belonging to the company triggered jubilation in  various parts of the commercial city and attracted widespread commendation for the.  Federal Government.
Julius Berger won the  contract to construct the long awaited bridge across River Niger. Two weeks ago, at the  43rd Julius Berger Annual General Meeting  (AGM), its Managing Director, Mr Wolfgang  Goetsch, disclosed that the Federal  Government had given Julius Berger a letter of intent, which would enable it to do preliminary  work such as soil testing and engineering design.     . He explained that the bridge would be built under the private-public partnership arrangement.
A consortium that included a South African firm participated in the bidding for the project. In January 2013, our group became the preferred bidder. We are excited because it will be the first of its kind in Nigeria,” he noted.
Investigation  revealed that Julius Berger brought to the agreement table, the sum of  NI00  billion, while the Federal Government is paying 30 per cent equity. The 30 per cent equity by government, according to our investigation, would be generated through the SURE-P programme.
Giving insight into the project, the Special  Adviser to the Minister of Works on Media,  Mr Tony Ikpasaja, said the total length of the  bridge including the accompanying road is  12.4 kilometres.
Said Ikpasaja: “the entire bridge and  approach road is l2.4Km. The bridge itself is  1.8km, while the approach road is 10.6km.”  He said, “the approach road begins from  Asaba before the airport, and veers to the right  to hit the bridge, while from the bridge, the road takes you into Onitsha-Owerri road and  also, to Onitsha-Enugu road”
When ourr coresspondent Sun visited the Onitsha River Port located few metres away from the Old  Niger Bridge, which is temporarily being used  by officials of Julius Berger, there were many  barges that had berthed along the River Niger  laden with some heavy equipment belonging   to the construction giant.
Among the barges were those with registration no IMQ 9362554 5 NLD5 carrying some equipment to be used by site engineers who  were busy in various parts of the state conducting what they termed preliminary analysis.