Lagos State government has commenced the rehabilitation of Odo Iya Alaro Bridge located on the ever busy Ikorodu –Lagos Road in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Fielding questions from journalists on Tuesday after the inspection of the ongoing works on expansion joints on the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge, by a team comprising Lagos State government Officials from the Office of Infrastructure, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola lamented that the structural integrity of the bridge has been compromised by frequent vandalism of the bridge by urchins.
He said, ‘’This Odo Iya Alaro Bridge has been known to have challenges with expansion joints thereby slowing down traffic. Something has been there for a long while, at this point in time the Bridge decks have issues, we need to change the expansion joints at two locations, on each carriage way. From the Ikorodu bound, we have two locations on it both 11 metres wide, while on the Maryland bound we have two as well in that location.
‘’ As you can see the project has commenced, the road is closed on this section. It is basically to look at the progress of work and reevaluate the traffic management.’’
On vandalism of infrastructure, he lamented that,’’ The expansion joints on this location have gone through several thefts, road abuse, urchins have come in there to steal the expansion joints there affecting the bridge effectiveness.
‘’Part of what we are doing here is replacing the expansion joints. We are also appealing to Lagosians to be patient with the state government while we do it. We are also appealing to them to take ownership of the projects. We cannot continue to do this on and on.’’
Daramola assured that the Lagos State government will continue routine maintenance works on pedestrian and vehicular Bridges while urging Lagosians to take full responsibility of various infrastructure in the state.
According to the Special Adviser, the state government is responsive and would leave no stone unturned at rehabilitating the bridge as quickly as possible, reaffirming its commitment towards Infrastructure upgrade in the state.
He harped on the need for motorists and Lagos residents to be patient during the ninety day closure necessitated by the failure of the expansion joints and the deplorable state of the asphalt pavement and expansion joints on the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge.
Also speaking, the state’s Commissioner For Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, appealed to residents to join hands with the government to maintain infrastructure and expose miscreants behind vandalism of public facilities in the state while regretting any inconveniences caused by ongoing works on the expansion joints on the bridge.
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