The Federal Controller of Works in Delta State, Mr Jimoh Olawale, says the Second Niger Bridge will be opened to traffic on December 15.
Olawale, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Asaba, however, said the bridge would be opened for only 30 days.
He noted that the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, ordered the opening of the bridge, which is 95 per cent complete, to ease traffic during the Yuletide.
He said, “As we know, during the Christmas celebration, commuters suffer hardship accessing the old Niger Bridge due to traffic, but with this arrangement, traffic congestion on the Asaba-Benin Expressway will ease.
“We have notified the state government of this arrangement, and we are working with the Federal Road Safety Corps to ensure hitch-free vehicular movement.
“Motorists going in the direction of Owerri would divert through the access road near the old Niger Bridge to the new bridge.”
Olawale, however, debunked claims by a group alleging that the Federal Government had abandoned the payment of compensation to property owners along the access road to the second Niger Bridge.
On Yuletide, the controller advised motorists to stick to a speed limit of 100 km per hour to arrive safely at their destinations.
