Anambra State Assembly expresses concern over construction of bumps on asphalted roads

 

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

Anambra State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, expressed worries over used of unapproved materials in construction of bumps on asphalted roads in the State and urged governor Chukwuma Soludo's urgent intervention to ensure that those engaging in such practices suspend action.

The State legislators made this known during a motion of public importance moved by the Majority Leader and member representing Ekwusigo constituency, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme and others, noting that some motorists have damaged their tyres and other parts of their vehicles while driving through the affected roads.

According to them, most of the bumps were constructed by individuals and communities using unapproved materials and without approvals from relevant government agencies thereby constituting deathtraps to road users in Anambra State.

They urged governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the State Ministry of Transport and Managing Director, Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA) to ensure the removal of unapproved bumps constructed with non-compatible materials on asphalted roads in the State.

The Assembly, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dr Somtochukwu Udeze, further stressed that the Ministry of Transport and ARTMA should  prevail on communities and individuals not to construct bumps on asphalted roads without due approval and professional supervision, adding that all approved bumps should be built with asphalt friendly mixtures in line with global engineering best practices.

They argued that not complying to this directive had reduced the lifespan of roads, resulted into road accidents, vehicle damages, traffic congestion, and loss of lives.

Ofodeme, while presenting the motion, argued that road bumps ought to serve as speed breakers designed to calm devices, reduce the speed of vehicles, enhance road safety, while preventing accidents, protecting lives and property in residential areas, school zones, markets and other busy public places.

"For pumps to achieve these objectives, they must be professionally designed, properly engineered, and constructed with materials compatible with asphalt technology so as not to weaken or damage the structural integrity of our road network.

"Unfortunately, many communities, individuals and groups have resorted to indiscriminate construction of bumps on both new and old asphalted roads without the approval of the Ministry of Transport or the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA).

"We are concerned that most of these bumps are constructed with non-compatible mixtures such as cement, sand, stones or concrete, which are not in line with asphalt standards, thereby causing cracks, potholes and premature deterioration of roads, leading to waste of government resources," he stated.

The Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Somtochukwu Udeze, while ruling on the motion, described it as timely and responsive, assuring that with Governor's kind directives, the relevant authorities would swiftly intervene so as to ensure that international best practices were applied while constructing bumps on asphalted roads.