Alternative routes around Otovwodo come under pressure as flooding cuts off part of the East-West Road
UGHELLI, DELTA STATE — Movement between Effurun, Agbarho and Ughelli has been severely disrupted following the collapse and flooding of a section of the East-West Road along the Agbarho-Ughelli corridor.
The affected section, around Uvwiama/Orido Junction close to the Agbarho Police Station, was damaged following days of heavy rainfall and rising floodwater.
Reports indicate that one lane of the major highway has been washed away, leaving only limited passage for motorists and creating serious traffic congestion. Some commuters have reportedly been stranded for hours, while vehicles travelling from Effurun and Agbarho towards Ughelli have been forced to seek alternative routes.
The disruption is also affecting commercial transport operators, with drivers having to navigate longer and more difficult routes. Residents say the increased journey time, fuel consumption and poor condition of some diversion routes could put additional pressure on passenger fares.
One of the major concerns is the condition of alternative roads around the Otovwodo axis in Ughelli. Residents and commuters have appealed for urgent maintenance of the routes, saying increased traffic from the damaged East-West Road is putting additional pressure on roads that were not designed to handle the present volume of vehicles.
Reports indicate that motorists are using different diversion options depending on the condition of the roads and the level of flooding. Some vehicles have diverted through Agbarho town and connecting roads, while other motorists are using routes around Otovwodo and Okogbe to bypass the affected section.
However, some of the alternative roads are also reported to be in poor condition, with flooding, damaged access points and congestion making the journey difficult. One report said some commuters had spent more than two hours on journeys that would normally take considerably less time.
The situation has raised fresh concerns among commuters travelling daily between Ughelli, PTI and Effurun Roundabout, particularly over the possibility of increased transport fares as drivers spend more on fuel and vehicle maintenance while dealing with longer journeys.
As of the time of filing this report, however, IBN News could not independently confirm a uniform new fare for the Ughelli–PTI/Effurun route. Fares may vary between transport parks, loading points, vehicle operators and the particular diversion being used.
Residents have called on the relevant authorities and the contractor handling the surrounding road works to urgently maintain the alternative routes and address the damaged section of the East-West Road.
They also urged authorities to improve drainage around the affected corridor, warning that further rainfall could worsen the situation and potentially disrupt the remaining passage on the highway.
For thousands of commuters who depend on the Ughelli-Effurun corridor daily, the immediate concern remains whether the damaged section can be made safe and passable before further rainfall causes a complete breakdown of movement along the route.
