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The Cross River Government has begun work on the Idiabo-Eseku Road project which was abandoned 33 years ago.
Mr Ankpo Edet, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, told newsmen that the road project was awarded in 1992 by the military government
Edet, who spoke during a tour of the project site by the Think Cross River initiative, expressed appreciation at the level of work already done.
He said the state government’s decision to take over the road project was to reduce the tortuous traveling experience being faced by Cross River people.
“It is a 10km road, so far, about 2.7km of the swampy area of the road has been sand-filled. The Federal Government has already constructed three bridges on the road, but two of them failed the integrity test.”
The commissioner said the bridges that failed integrity tests would be reinforced so that they could stand the test of time.
He stated that when completed, the Idiabo-Eseku Road would reduce traveling time between Calabar and Akwa Ibom.
Edet said the major challenge in implementing the project was that about 5km of the road was swampy and required sand-filling.
Mr Darlington Edem, director-general, Think Cross River initiative, said the essence of the tour was to keep track of the progress made so far on the road.
Edem said the Idiabo-Eseku Road was about the biggest single project being embarked upon by the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration.
He said when completed, the road would provide the needed relief to road users who had endured years of torture using the Calabar-Itu Road as an alternative route.
