Amid lamentation of traffic congestion on Lagos–Ibadan Expressway due to ongoing construction of the road, the Lagos State government has appealed for understanding of the road users , saying adequate arrangements have been made for traffic regulatory agencies to manage the construction zone to avert gridlock.
The state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde who stated this after inspection of the construction zones reiterated the commitment of the state government to constantly consultation with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on Traffic Management of the construction corridor of the ever busy road even as the work is ramping up to completion.
Oladeinde assured the motoring public that he will continue to hold strategic meetings with the Federal Ministry of Works and its project Engineers to review the mode of works and proffer solutions that can ease the strain of traffic impact faced by road users.
Assuring the motoring public that the Federal Government is expediting actions to complete the project at record time as announced by the Minister of Works and Housing, the Commissioner stated that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA), its Ogun State counterpart, TRACE are working in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC) to ease the gridlock on the corridor.
While expressing sympathy on the plight being experienced by motorists on the corridor, the Transport Commissioner appealed for calm as the construction works will soon come to an end.
Disclosing updates on the construction works, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr. Umar Bakare explained that the existing three lanes which the contractor usually worked with had to be reduced to two at each of the construction sections, thereby resulting in traffic build up.
He said the contractor is rounding up work around Opic and with the completion of the Asphalt works, the section will be open to traffic by Monday while the Berger axis too will be completed by the end of the month of April.
The Controller of Works further explained that the contractor has increased the number of working gangs to four in order to increase the pace of work towards meeting up with the deadline of April.
With regards to Eko Bridge, Engr. Bakare stated that the rehabilitation works of the bridge is ongoing especially at the fire damaged section of Apongbon. He added that work is being concentrated on the restoration of the structural defect caused by the inferno, and once this is completed, he revealed that the bridge will be opened to traffic by the 31st of May, 2023 while work will continue on the other sections of the rehabilitated bridge.
