Even before formal commissioning of the newly reconstructed Port Harcourt Road, Aba, Abia State, joyous traders and residents have relocated to the project site.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, had flagged off the reconstruction of the perennially dilapidated 6.7 kilometres of the Port Harcourt Road, Aba.

The road, which was one of the most deplorable Federal Roads in the state was awarded to acclaimed engineering construction company, Julius Berger at the rate of N30 billion, with an official completion date of 18 months.

According to the specifications, Julius Berger was expected to reconstruct the road as well as build a flood control mechanism within the area which is part of the flood-ravaged Uratta, Ohabiam and Ndiegoro flood-prone area.

At the time of flagging off, Port Harcourt Road, Aba had been abandoned by both residents and commercial traders making the key link road between the state and nearby Rivers state loose artisanship activities and other well-known business activities for which the stretch of road was known.

Speaking during the flag-off, Otti said he was glad that his administration is taking yet another strategic step in fulfilling one of his major campaign promises which is to permanently break the jinx of Port Harcourt Road Aba and revive the long-abandoned economic activities along the area.

The road which was completed last April ahead of an earlier scheduled commissioning date in May, is now a beehive of commercial activities with many residents and traders earlier displaced by construction works, now relocated to the area for business activities.

Last week, people in the area were ecstatic when asked to comment on the new look of Port Harcourt Road.

An Okada rider who gave his name as, Innocent, congratulated the state governor for the will to commission a company like Julius Berger to help to reconstruct Port Harcourt Road.

“My name is Innocent a.k.a Fuji Kpokirikpo Nwaaba. Alex Otti the Governor of Abia State, is our number one citizen in this country. Over 28 years now, we have been patrolling around this area, none of the past governors bothered to make this road look like this, and now within a few months, our governor has done this for us. You see this Port Harcourt Road before na River Niger, and the other side River Benue. Now, our governor has done the road, everywhere is now looking like Express Road now. Take a look at the roundabout that has been put here, he said

He added: this new road is God-sent just like the Governor. For bringing Julius Berger to Abia State, that means he is the son of the soil and God will bless him. We are really enjoying it now, no more suffering, no more rain boots, no more using rubber slippers to go out, only leather shoes. But now, we are enjoying it. May God bless him,” said an ecstatic Innocent.

According to a motor engine oil seller in an interview inside his shop, Julius Berger is the number one construction company in Nigeria. They do very nice job and everyone is not blind at that. Whoever knows good thing will know the good thing the company is doing. If you go around the roads in Aba and see what other construction companies are doing at Obohia Road for example, and other places, it’s poor standard and not even as perfect as what Julius Berger is doing here. So, we give Berger No. 1, especially for making the road smooth.

All along the new road last Friday, especially towards the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, petty traders in their shops expressed their new found love for the area given the massive turnaround the company gave the road, with a Keke driver saying to his colleagues; let them come and commission the road and let us work for the next target area to develop this city. (THISDAY)