FERMA Rehabilitates Roads, Restores Erosion-Hit Bridge In Delta

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has rehabilitated failed sections of federal roads and restored an erosion-threatened bridge in Delta State as part of efforts to improve road safety and connectivity.

The interventions include repairs on the 38-kilometre Kwale-Ebedei-Umutu Road and restoration work at the Okumeshi Bridge section.

The development was disclosed on Wednesday during a monitoring visit to ongoing FERMA projects in the state, led by the agency’s Special Assistant to the Managing Director, Dr Emeka Maduagwu.

Speaking on the Kwale-Ebedei-Umutu Road, FERMA’s Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in Delta State, Kingsley Oshewe, said rehabilitation had been carried out on sections between kilometres 21+000 and 24+000.

He explained that the work involved scarification, removal of failed pavement materials, filling with sharp sand and laterite, compaction, stone-base application, priming and asphalt surfacing.

Oshewe said several portions of the affected road had been successfully restored.

The monitoring team also inspected the Okumeshi Bridge section at kilometre 15 between Ebedei and Umukuata communities in Ukwuani Local Government Area.

An embankment washout had threatened the bridge approach and posed a risk of cutting off the carriageway.

In response, FERMA constructed a reinforced concrete retaining wall, backfilled the affected area with laterite and protected the embankment with stone pitching to prevent further erosion.

The agency said the interventions were aimed at keeping critical federal road links open, improving connectivity and facilitating the movement of people, goods and agricultural produce across the state.