Delta government says the ongoing construction of Trans-Warri road and bridges in Warri South Local Government Area of the state will be completed in 2021.

The Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, made this known on Wednesday in Warri while briefing newsmen shortly after inspecting the project.

“The essence of the inspection is to ensure that all contractors handling state projects are on-site in line with the state government’s directive to them to return to the site following substantial relaxation of the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

The commissioner said that the multi-billion Naira road project, which comprised the 25.8 km and 19 bridges linking Ubeji, Ifie, Ijala, Ogbodede, Inorin, Ajigba, Orugbo, Usele, Ode-Itsekiri was awarded in 2006.

He said that the contractor moved to the site in November 2007.

“Although the project has several links to other communities, this administration decided that the contractor should concentrate on the main alignment.

“The contractors are presently trying to complete the remaining five bridges and once they are done with that they will continue on the road work.

“The quality of work is very high and I must commend the contractors for doing a good job.

“However, let me urge them to increase the pace of work to ensure that this project is completed by the end of next year,” he said.

Augoye said that the project had opened up the Ubeji community to Ifie side of the Warri River.

“The project has attracted six tank farms and other multi-billion naira investments, I urged the contractors to speed up the pace of work in order to meet the December 2021 completion timeline.

“As you can see, the road has not been completed, but it has opened up the other side of the river to some economic activities.

“And if this other side of the river is completed, it means that it will create more economic activities for the people around this area,” he said.

The Special Director of the project, Chief Otimeyin Adam, commended the state governor for his commitment toward the completion of the project.

He said that Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration had reduced the state government’s indebtedness to the contractor from N9 billion to N3 billion.

Otimeyin expressed optimism that the project would be completed as scheduled.

Earlier, Area Manager of Setraco, Delta Region, Mr. Joseph Helby said that the company was determined to complete the project at the end of 2021.

“We have completed 14 of the bridges, while work is ongoing on the remaining five bridges.

“We have also completed 95 percent of the internal roads in Ode-Itsekiri and we look forward to the completion of the entire project at the end of 2021,” Helby said.