ROAD CONSTRUCTION IS THE KEY FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT

 Boyce A. Odoko

Department of Architecture,

National institute of Construction Technology Uromi. Edo state.

E-Mail: odokoarch@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Road construction encourages development in urban centers and rural areas of any society. Construction of good reliable road network and pedestrian walkways provides the general public, access to economic activities. Businesses always locate wherever a road is constructed because the road is the means that makes it possible for people to have access to the business activities. Road network brings positive development in urban or rural area. Provision of street cape with pedestrian walkways that are equipped with pedestrian light poles, seating places, trash receptacles, trees to provide shade and pedestrian cross-walk will create pleasant environment for the inhabitants. Improvement, with such amenities, will not only create positive psychological effect on the people, it will also give positive image and positive picture of good urban development. It will encourage economic activities as well. For example, Walmart, a major retail store in the United States of America, whenever, it opens a new store at any particular location, several other businesses locates around Walmart. This is because there is always a good access road leading to the mega Walmart store. It is the good road that makes it possible for the general public to gain access to the Walmart store, the same road also gives access to the other businesses that locate around Walmart. It is also, true from my practical experience in the United States of America, whenever a major retail Mall is located at any place, several other businesses are opened around the Mall because of the good access road provided to the Mall. For example, Gwinnett Place Mall and Mall of Georgia, located in the City of Lawrenceville, Gwinnet County, a suburban area of Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States of America. Because of the excellent road network around these malls, several businesses have located around these malls.

Keywords: Road Construction, Development, Urban and Rural, Good Roads, Access Roads, Retail Mall, Goods and services, Economic growth, Effective reliable road infrastructure, Urban growth, Urban centers and market place.