Premium News
CRACK ON ABAKPA NIKE BRIDGE:
ENUGU WORKS MINISTRY SAYS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM
The Enugu State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has assured residents that there is no cause for alarm over the crack seen on the Abakpa Nike Flyover.
A video showing the crack recently circulated online, raising concerns about the integrity of the bridge.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, signed by its spokesperson, Ngozi Ngene, the ministry said a team of engineers inspected the flyover.
The ministry said the engineers confirmed that the crack appeared behind the abutment and not on the main structure.
According to the ministry, the issue was caused by the settlement of the soil used to build up the ramp section of the bridge.
“This happened because of the consolidation of the fill material used to raise the road to the bridge level,” the statement explained.
Soil consolidation, the ministry added, is a natural process where water in compacted soil gradually escapes over time, creating small spaces that lead to slight movement or settling of the soil.
The affected area involved a fill height of over nine metres behind the retaining wall, making such settlement expected.
“The general public is hereby informed not to be alarmed by these cracks as they were anticipated,” said the statement.
The engineers also checked all structural elements of the bridge and found them intact.
