(DDM) – Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has ordered the immediate reopening of the Okogbe access road in Ughelli, Delta State.
DDM gathered that the directive came after days of mounting public complaints over persistent gridlock caused by the ongoing construction of the Otovwodo Junction Flyover.
The Okogbe link road had been closed as part of the traffic management plan for the multi-billion-naira flyover project.
The closure, however, triggered heavy congestion across several parts of Ughelli, affecting motorists, residents, businesses, and emergency responders.
The situation became more chaotic as the festive season approached, with more vehicles attempting to navigate limited routes within the town.
On Friday, 28 November 2025, motorists stuck in long traffic lines appealed to the government for urgent intervention to prevent a total lockdown of movement.
Governor Oborevwori responded swiftly by directing the Commissioner for Works, Comrade Reuben Izeze, to visit the location and initiate immediate measures to ease the pressure on the town.
The Commissioner arrived at the scene with engineers, project supervisors, and traffic management personnel to assess the extent of the congestion.
The team identified the Okogbe access road as the quickest and most effective alternative route to relieve the burden caused by the flyover works.
Izeze noted that the corridor had recently come under heavy pressure due to the growing influx of haulage trucks diverting to Ughelli from failed roads in surrounding regions.
He explained that the sudden increase in heavy-duty vehicles added an unexpected level of strain to the town’s existing traffic capacity.
The Works Commissioner confirmed that Julius Berger, the contractor handling the Otovwodo Flyover, had received final instructions to reopen the Okogbe access road without delay.
He emphasized that reopening the link road was a necessary short-term intervention while the administration continues to work on more permanent solutions to improve mobility within Ughelli.
According to him, the government remains committed to ensuring that major construction works do not completely cripple daily movement for residents.
He assured the public that traffic enforcement officials will also be deployed to the area to guide motorists and prevent disorder around the reopened corridor.
Local transport operators have welcomed the development, describing the Governor’s intervention as timely and necessary.
Many residents say the reopening will restore normal traffic patterns that had been severely disrupted since the flyover construction began.
Several business owners in Ughelli also expressed relief, noting that the gridlock had discouraged customers from visiting key areas of the town.
The government urged motorists to make maximum use of the Okogbe route while construction activities continue at the Otovwodo flyover site.
Officials reiterated that the flyover project, once completed, will significantly transform traffic flow and reduce travel time across the growing urban center.
Governor Oborevwori reaffirmed his commitment to easing movement, supporting commerce, and ensuring public convenience throughout the period of infrastructural development.
He called on residents to remain patient, cooperate with traffic managers, and support efforts to improve road conditions in the interest of the community.
The reopening marks another step in the administration’s broader agenda to enhance road infrastructure and create safer, more efficient transportation networks in Delta State.