Impact of Road Transport Infrastructure on Economic Development in Plateau State

This study assessed the impacts of road infrastructure on economic development in Plateau State. The objective of this study include; to determine the extent relationship between road transport system and its impacts on economic in Plateau State. To access the extent on which transport agencies contributed on advancing activities towards economic development in Plateau State. To assess the major challenges confronting effort at improving road transport infrastructure on economic development in Plateau State.  The study was carried in five local governments, Barki Ladi, Jos North, Riyom and Bokkos. The study used decision making theory, system theory and Frischman theory of infrastructure development and were adapted as a theoretical underpinning for the research. Research design adopted for the study is survey design which it involved the use of primary and secondary data. 400 residents in the local government served as the population for the study while 370 respondents were sampled using Taro Yamane sampling technique. A structured questionnaire developed by the researcher served as the instrument for data collection while the data collected from the respondents were presented in table and analysed using simple percentage. The findings of the study revealed: road transport infrastructure has not been fully addressed by government. The study further recommended that strict enforcement of traffic regulation should be intensified. Based on the findings both federal, state and private sector should take road infrastructure development serious especially road that link rural to urban areas for easy accessing agricultural produce of the state road infrastructure should be maintain from time to time in order to elongate the life cycle of road infrastructure and its impact on economic development. The study therefore recommend among others that allocation of resources for the rehabilitation and expansion of road network focusing on critical routes that connect key economic centres and prioritize the construction of new roads where is needed to improve accessibility and reduce congestion.

Keywords: Impact, road transport, infrastructure, development.