[PHOTOS] Julius Berger completes landmark Bodo-Bonny road, final touches underway

Leading construction firm Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has announced the completion of the long-awaited Bodo-Bonny Road project in Rivers State, marking a major milestone in efforts to connect Bonny Island to the rest of the country by road for the first time.

The company disclosed that only minor finishing works, including landscaping and streetlight installations, remain before the project is fully ready for final handover.

Speaking at the project site in Bodo on Monday, Project Manager, Engr. Tim Nippert, said construction of the 37.9-kilometre road has been substantially completed, with workers currently focused on tree planting, streetlight foundations and pole installations, particularly around the Kilometre 12 roundabout.

According to him, the remaining tasks are largely aesthetic and supportive infrastructure works.

“The project is completed. The only outstanding works are tree planting, streetlight foundations and pole installations. We are also finalising some bridge joints that were delayed because imported materials were unavailable. Those works should be completed within the next two weeks,” he said.

Nippert noted that despite the challenging terrain, Julius Berger successfully delivered the project within the approved budget and generated savings that are now being used to fund additional enhancements.

He explained that the Federal Ministry of Works approved the use of the savings for the installation of streetlights and beautification of the corridor through landscaping and tree planting.

“From the contract sum, we achieved savings and the ministry directed that the funds be used for streetlights and beautification. This means the government is getting additional value without spending extra money,” he added.

The Bodo-Bonny Road project is one of Nigeria’s most ambitious road infrastructure undertakings due to the difficult swampy and marshland terrain through which it passes.

During an inspection visit in October 2025, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, directed that the road be opened to motorists by the end of November 2025 while final works continued ahead of official commissioning.

At the time, Umahi described the project as a remarkable engineering achievement, noting that construction commenced on October 20, 2017, and had undergone several cost reviews during execution.

The minister defended the project’s cost, estimated at about N7.4 billion per kilometre, citing the complex coastal environment and the extensive engineering requirements involved.

“This is a coastal road passing through marshy terrain. If this project were to commence today, the cost would exceed N15 billion per kilometre. The quality of work is excellent, and I am impressed with the commitment shown by the project team,” Umahi had said.

He also revealed plans for solar-powered streetlights, CCTV surveillance systems and extensive landscaping along the route, with funding sourced from project contingencies rather than additional government allocations.

The road represents a transformative infrastructure project for Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta region. For decades, Bonny Island, home to major oil and gas investments including the Nigeria LNG facility, relied primarily on water transportation for access to the mainland.

The new road is expected to significantly improve mobility, stimulate economic activities, enhance security and strengthen connectivity between coastal communities and other parts of the country.

The project is also notable for its unique funding arrangement, with Nigeria LNG Limited contributing 50 per cent of the financing under a public-private partnership framework.

Engineering works on the project included the construction of nearly 39 kilometres of roadway, numerous culverts, two mini bridges and three major bridges, including the 750-metre Opobo Channel Bridge. Other key structures include the 530-metre Afa Creek Bridge and the 640-metre Nanabie Creek Bridge.

Given the difficult soil conditions and tidal environment, the project required extensive dredging operations, specialised soil stabilisation techniques and advanced bridge construction methods, including incremental launching technology.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approved the second phase of the Bodo-Bonny Road project.

Umahi disclosed the approval during a recent award ceremony organised by the Bodo-Bonny Road and Bridges Peace Committee in Abuja. Represented by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, the minister described the road as a critical national asset that would boost commerce, improve security and promote economic growth across the Niger Delta.

“The road is more than a transportation corridor. It is a pathway to economic opportunities, improved security and greater regional integration,” he said.

According to him, preparations for the next phase have already commenced, with the ministry initiating the necessary documentation to ensure immediate implementation.

Chairman of the event’s planning committee, Prof. Jasper Jumbo, described the completion of the road as the fulfilment of a decades-long aspiration of the affected communities.

He said the project represents a historic breakthrough for residents who had waited nearly four decades to see the dream of a road connection between Bonny Island and the mainland become a reality.