The new and only Pedestrian Bridge in Benin-city, the Edo state capital, is now open for public use.
The
Pedestrian Bridge is situated across a federal highway – the
Benin-Lagos expressway – in front of the main gate of the University of
Benin (UNIBEN).
The Pedestrian Bridge was constructed by the Godwin Obaseki-led Edo state government.
Before
now, no pedestrian bridge existed in the Benin-city. Though, this new
pedestrian bridge is not the first to be constructed in the state
capital.
The first Pedestrian Bridge was constructed in the early
‘90s. It was constructed about 500 meters away from where this new one
is located. It was built in front of the University of Benin Teaching
Hospital (UBTH).
The UBTH Pedestrian bridge – the first to be
built in Edo state – suffered severe lack of usage. Ostensibly, this
led to its eventual dismantling and disappearance from that location.
That Pedestrian Bridge was constructed by Lucky Igbinedion, during his
stint as the Chairman of Oredo Local Government council.
It could
be recalled that several students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN)
have lost their lives while attempting to cross the ever-busy
Benin-Lagos expressway to the institution’s campus. The most recent
being the one involving a certain Late Rita Awele.
All these informed the decision by the Edo state government to construct a pedestrian bridge in front of the UNIBEN main gate.
The new Pedestrian Bridge was constructed by Hartland Construction.
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