Locational Difference in road surface quality in Calabar Urban: The legal and planning Implication

Abstract

The study was aimed at assessing the locational difference of roads surface quality in Calabar Urban, and it legal and planning implication thereof. The study adopted a mixed method research design, which comprised survey research design and geospatial research design. Discrete type of data from both primary and secondary sources were obtained. Data collection was from direct field measurement. Out of a total of 1677 roads, 109 roads were major roads and 8 were highways. These were identified and 25 roads were purposively selected in the study. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was adopted in testing the hypothesis of the study. The result of the study revealed the measurement of road width, road length and sidewalk width of 8 highways with Murtala Muhammed Highway indicating the highest. Map of the study area showing minor roads, major roads and highways is was designed. The map visualizes three major road types, which include: tiny yellow lines representing minor roads, the thick gold colour lines represent major roads and the dotted black and white lines represent the highways. The highways are Eta Agbor, IBB way, Marian, Murtala Mohammed Highway, Airport Bypass, Parliamentary, Calabar Road and Mary Slessor. Lastly, the result of the tested hypothesis revealed that road surfaces (potholes and patches) do not differ significantly within the three distinct network zones in the Calabar Urban. It was thus recommended that efficient laws and policy should be put in place for proper management of road whilst old roads should be renovated and expanded to increase their carrying capacity.