The Federal Road Maintenance Engineer in Osun State, Mr. Ayodele Omojengbesi, while speaking in an interview with our correspondent at the site on Friday, said the repair work would be completed in the next three weeks.
Omojengbesi noted that the agency was using direct labour to carry out the project and save users the difficulties associated with the bad nature of the road.
He said that the Federal Government was trying its best to make federal roads passable for motorists, because of the importance of roads to the nation’s economy and the well-being of the people.
Apart from the repair work along the Ilesa-Ekiti State border, the FERMA boss said the agency had also commenced vegetation control along the Ife-Ilesa Expressway.
Omojengbesi stated that the vegetation control on the verges and median of the road was necessary because it would give motorists clearer vision, while the cutting of the bushes would make the road to last longer.
The FERMA boss stated, “We started the patching of potholes and repair of the failed sections on this road about four weeks ago. The road is 18 kilometres long and we are hoping to complete the work in the next three weeks.
“The timeframe is in line with the directive of the Federal Government that the project should be completed within 12 weeks and we are sure that we will complete it even before the expiration of the time allowed.”
He added, “We are cutting potholes, providing stone base course and also providing asphalt in concrete bearing course. All these will be done and we are confident that these will make travelling on this road smoother.
“We are also currently carrying out vegetation control on the Ife-Ilesa Expressway. We are clearing the median and the verges. The job done on that road is about 80 per cent and it is being done through direct labour. We engage youths from the communities along the road to get the work done.”
Asked why the agency was not carrying out major rehabilitation of failed sections on the Ibadan-Ilesa Expressway, Omojengbesi said the Federal Government would soon award a contract for a special repair to be done on the road.
He appealed to motorists to bear with the government pending the time the rehabilitation would be done and urged them to always drive carefully in order to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
