₦airaland Forum

What's your view on this on going demarcation of River Niger bridge?

APC destroyed Nigeria totally. That bridge plan and design from down inside the river no require that extra permanent weight of the median

Why is Umahi demarcating that bridge? Considering it's just one lane. If there is an issue on one side, the traffic won't be here.

There is nothing wrong with the demarcation. It will order traffic and eliminate dangerous overtaking that puts vehicles on collision course with oncoming traffic. And then, there are still two lanes on each side so there is still ample space for traffic to continue if that your wishful scenario plays out.

AsomughaChuks02:
There is nothing wrong with the demarcation. It will order traffic and eliminate dangerous overtaking that puts vehicles on collision course with oncoming traffic. And then, there are still two lanes on each side so there is still ample space for traffic to continue if that your wishful scenario plays out.

But it is a one lane, how will a vehicle overtake the other on the bridge. Also in case if a vehicle happened to have issue on the road, how will the vehicle at the back pass based on the fact that it is just one lane and not a double Lane

This is the final solution to harebrained driving on that bridge. Those saying traffic will be worse if a vehicle breaks down, consider sitting in that traffic for 4 full hours because stupid drivers will leave their lane and block oncoming traffic and lock everybody down. This happens every single day. A broken down vehicle can be towed away. It takes hours to clear traffic congestion caused by an impatient driver blocking oncoming traffic.

I'm not a professional. However I've listened to those who are in support of the division and those against it.

For those in support, they argued that dividing the bridge will help to maintain orderliness.

And then for those who are against the division, the bridge wasn't meant for this division as this may increase the load on the bridge. They equally argued that should a vehicle get stucked on any side of the divide, it will be difficult for commuters to manoeuvre their way around the bridge.

As for me, thank God the bridge is receiving adequate attention even though it took reporting the state of the bridge on the social media before the intervention. Nevertheless, kudos to both the president and the minister of works.

Umahi is not smart, there is a similar bridge in Ontario, what they did was to build another bridge beside the existing metal one. The new one becomes another lane instead of adding weight to existing old bridge with demarcation.
Again, did they perform any risk assessment? Imagine that 8 trailers laden with loads are stuck on the bridge, that is dead weight that the builders never factored in the initial design in the 70s.

AsomughaChuks02:
There is nothing wrong with the demarcation. It will order traffic and eliminate dangerous overtaking that puts vehicles on collision course with oncoming traffic. And then, there are still two lanes on each side so there is still ample space for traffic to continue if that your wishful scenario plays out.

Una self.

Validated:
Umahi is not smart, there is a similar bridge in Ontario, what they did was to build another bridge beside the existing metal one. The new one becomes another lane instead of adding weight to existing old bridge with demarcation.
Again, did they perform any risk assessment? Imagine that 8 trailers laden with loads are stuck on the bridge, that is dead weight that the builders never factored in the initial design in the 70s.

They could have used plastic demarcation instead of concrete

They should simply have tow trucks and emergency points at both ends of the bridge.

Problem solved.

They should have built another one by the side

How una dey take reason for that una region is so appaling.

clarocuzioo:
Why is Umahi demarcating that bridge? Considering it's just one lane. If there is an issue on one side, the traffic won't be here.

Okay so if a car breaks down how does a towing Van gets to the broken down car 🤔

oglalasioux:
This is the final solution to harebrained driving on that bridge. Those saying traffic will be worse if a vehicle breaks down, consider sitting in that traffic for 4 full hours because stupid drivers will leave their lane and block oncoming traffic and lock everybody down. This happens every single day. A broken down vehicle can be towed away. It takes hours to clear traffic congestion caused by an impatient driver blocking oncoming traffic.

Junior you must be 12

Are you saying that demarcation on a narrow bridge is the best?

Validated:
Umahi is not smart, there is a similar bridge in Ontario, what they did was to build another bridge beside the existing metal one. The new one becomes another lane instead of adding weight to existing old bridge with demarcation.
Again, did they perform any risk assessment? Imagine that 8 trailers laden with loads are stuck on the bridge, that is dead weight that the builders never factored in the initial design in the 70s.

You mean by engineers didn't factor just 8 dead weight in building an interstate bridge? Y'all just ignorant. They actually factored 800 trucks dead weight not just 8 if not the bridge would have long collapsed

Not necessarily.
The bridge is slim

Didi2d:
They should have built another one by the side

They've built another one. It's called Second Niger Bridge.

callthefred:
You mean by engineers didn't factor just 8 dead weight in building an interstate bridge? Y'all just ignorant. They actually factored 800 trucks dead weight not just 8 if not the bridge would have long collapsed

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

THANK YOU!

Validated:
Umahi is not smart, there is a similar bridge in Ontario, what they did was to build another bridge beside the existing metal one. The new one becomes another lane instead of adding weight to existing old bridge with demarcation.
Again, did they perform any risk assessment? Imagine that 8 trailers laden with loads are stuck on the bridge, that is dead weight that the builders never factored in the initial design in the 70s.

You are in a third world country filled with political psychopaths people who are crazy but don't know yet

This thing you said is true, but do you really know where you ARE?

Even this bridge Dave said they will remove all bill board and replace it with BOLA AHMED and no body said KPAM
!

Validated:
Umahi is not smart, there is a similar bridge in Ontario, what they did was to build another bridge beside the existing metal one. The new one becomes another lane instead of adding weight to existing old bridge with demarcation.
Again, did they perform any risk assessment? Imagine that 8 trailers laden with loads are stuck on the bridge, that is dead weight that the builders never factored in the initial design in the 70s.

That umahi guy appears to be a dunce truly if I heard him correctly saying that he ordered engineers to check what is going on underneath the bridge after putting this extra dead weight on the top of an old bridge.

I don’t think it’s such a bad idea, let provisions be made on either sides for emergency standby tow trucks to move out broken down vehicles out of the way asap

Clearly, Umahi is making a fuss. It’s a good bridge – why the fuss?

Technical Writer

Kpongolo:
Junior you must be 12

Are you saying that demarcation on a narrow bridge is the best?

from this picture I thing the road is wide enough to contain 4

But like the writer said we should not subject commuter to trouble in the interest of all

But do they still have traffic, and motorist still use the bridge when a new bridge had been built?

What kind of stupid engineering is Umahi trying to do that on that Niger Bridge?

That demarcation will keep people there for days if a truck breaks down on that bridge.

I remember spending a night at the Asaba end of that bridge in October last year while travelling for a friend's Wedding in Nkpor.

I had taken a flight to Asaba, landed by around 4pm and thought I would be home free by another hour.

My people, by 11pm my driver and I were still stuck at that little stretch of road and from Asaba to Onitsha, even the interchange to the second Niger bridge was jampacked with trucks. No movement for hours.

I diagnosed that the number of road blocks and checkpoints by the police, Army and other security agencies caused that gridlock there.

There should be no checkpoint between the Asaba and Onitsha road. It is making travelling a hellish experience.

I think we need to be careful about the argument that “the demarcation will simply overload the Niger Bridge.” That statement, on its own, is not enough to condemn the project.

As a structural engineering principle, any permanent addition to a bridge introduces additional dead load. Whether that load is significant or insignificant cannot be determined by simply looking at the barrier. An engineer would need to know the weight per metre, how it is connected to the deck, where the load is transferred, the condition of the existing structural members and, most importantly, the bridge's remaining load capacity.

In fact, bridges around the world use physical median barriers.

Take the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It has a movable median barrier separating opposing traffic, and the barrier system itself consists of steel-clad units filled with concrete. The bridge was specifically assessed and engineered for the additional system.

So the argument should not be “barriers on bridges are dangerous.” They are not inherently dangerous.

The more important question is:

Was the First Niger Bridge structurally assessed and was the additional dead load of this particular demarcation incorporated into the rehabilitation design?

Because there is a major difference between installing a barrier on a bridge that has been structurally assessed for it and simply placing substantial concrete elements on an ageing bridge without demonstrating the available load capacity.

And there is another issue people are overlooking: traffic loading is not just about the weight of the divider.

A bridge is designed for combinations of dead load and live load — vehicles, including heavy trucks, buses and other traffic. The arrangement of those vehicles across the lanes matters. Engineering studies have shown that congestion and the positioning of heavy vehicles can significantly affect bridge loading.

So if you reduce the usable carriageway and squeeze traffic into narrower lanes, particularly on a bridge carrying heavy commercial traffic, you also need to consider how that changes vehicle distribution and loading.

And then there is the practical safety issue.

What happens when a truck breaks down?

What happens when there is an accident?

Where does a stranded vehicle go?

Where does a towing truck pass?

How does an ambulance or emergency response team get through?

A physical divider may improve lane discipline and prevent head-on collisions, but if it leaves inadequate refuge or emergency access, then the traffic-management solution can create another safety problem.

Again, the Golden Gate Bridge provides an interesting example. Its barrier system was not installed in isolation. It is part of a broader traffic-management system, with different lane configurations, emergency response arrangements and operational procedures.

So personally, I wouldn't say:

“Remove the demarcation because it will collapse the bridge.”

That is too simplistic.

I would ask the government and the engineers responsible for the rehabilitation to publish the engineering basis for the decision:

1. What is the additional dead load of the demarcation per metre?
2. What is the total additional load over the bridge?
3. What was the assessed load-carrying capacity of the existing bridge before installation?
4. What is the remaining capacity after the addition?
5. Were the deck, girders, connections and foundations checked?
6. Was the condition of the old steelwork and concrete considered?
7. What provision has been made for broken-down vehicles and emergency evacuation?
8. What happens when a heavily loaded truck is stationary beside the barrier?
9. Has the reduced lane width been assessed for the size and volume of trucks using the bridge?

Those are the questions that should be answered by the structural and highway engineers — not social media arguments about whether concrete “looks too heavy.”

The First Niger Bridge is an important piece of infrastructure. We should welcome measures that improve safety and traffic management, but because it is an ageing bridge undergoing rehabilitation, every additional permanent load and every change to its traffic configuration should be backed by calculations and a documented engineering assessment.

If the engineers have done the calculations and the bridge has adequate reserve capacity, then show Nigerians the assessment. If it has not been assessed, then that is the real concern.

That, to me, is a much more reasonable engineering conversation than simply saying “demarcation will overload the bridge” or “demarcation cannot affect the bridge.”

Because in structural engineering, we don't guess load — we calculate it.

Ojuju1:
What's your view on this on going demarcation of River Niger bridge?

Kpongolo:
Your mother actually cried and nurses shouted PUSH

Just to bring you out to support nonsense

Comment not insult

We are to young to start fighting when we don't no each other fiscally

Even when we do let's meet and enrich one another with ideas how to make money not waisting time and data to insult
Our self

bewla:
from this picture I thing the road is wide enough to contain 4

But like the writer said we should not subject commuter to trouble in the interest of all

Travel and see is not an insult

Travel and stop depending on Politics Data money

Just imagine!
Abakalike