The Delta State Government has started a process to launch by end of the year an ultra-modern soil testing laboratory within the premises of the Ministry of Works in Asaba, capital of the State.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the State Commissioner for Works, James Augoye made this known on Thursday while fielding questions from reporters after a tour of 12 major road projects in the State.
The Commissioner, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of jobs done by the contractors, said as soon as the laboratory is completed, all tests would be moved to the ministry, instead of going to the University to Benin to carry out tests.
“We have started the process of soil testing at our own laboratory within the premises of the Ministry of Works in Asaba. As soon as we are done with it, we will move all tests to the ministry instead of going to the University to Benin to carry out tests.
“And I can assure you that by the end of this year, we will get that done, as we have already acquired the equipment,” Augoye said at the end of the inspection in Ika South and Ika North East local councils.
Meanwhile, Augoye said the State Government was in high spirits to complete five major road projects, aggregating to 20.651 Km, before July, the peak of rainy season.
Some of the projects are the construction of DDPA Housing Estate roads (Phase Three), construction of adjoining roads around Queen Street Agbor and the recon¬struction of Alihame/Agbor-Nta/Oki road in Ika-South Local Government Area.
Others include the rehabilitation of Convent Street and the construction of Efeizomor road (from Owa-Ekei/Owa-Alero to Old Abraka road in Ika North-East Local Government Area.
While commending the contractors for displaying high levels of commitment, the Commissioner appealed for increased in the pace of work to achieve completion before the heavy rains.
With the exception of Convent Street which the commissioner said was awarded earlier than the rest, all others are at various levels of completion.
“Of all the projects we visited, we discovered that the contractors were on site. Aside from a couple of minor observations, the quality of jobs is high. I must commend them for their efforts, and I also wish to urge them to step up their pace of work to ensure there is a substantial completion of work before the rains come.
“I have no doubt that the contractors will deliver the jobs on schedule with the pace of work done so far. I am also certain the contractors would deliver on specifications, and in line with the timeline given to them,” Augoye stated.
The Commissioner assured that the open drains noticed at some construction sites would be substantially covered, while the major drains within the town would remain open.
He was accompanied on the visit by the Director of Urban and Regional Roads (North), Mrs. Juliet Aboloje, and others.