Motorists and commuters were on Wednesday stuck in the gridlock for several hours when the Ijora Bridge, a major access road leading to the Apapa Port, caved in, causing serious traffic gridlock along the port area.
To avert imminent disaster officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) cordoned off the failed portion of the bridge and were coordinating traffic through the remaining lane on the bridge.
A LASTMA official who said he was not authorised to speak to the press confirmed that the portion of the Ijora Bridge, descending from the Port area, caved in suddenly in the early hours of Wednesday.
“It was this morning that we noticed that there was a very big hole on the bridge. It wasn’t there on Tuesday when we passed here. This is very dangerous, our men has cordoned off that failed section to avoid total lockdown and to avoid a situation where unsuspecting motorists might run into it and cause accident.’’
Commenting on the development the Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Transportation has allayed the fears of motorists, saying urgent measures would be taken to rectify the problem.
The state government in a statement on Wednesday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, the Ministry appealed to motorists who make use of the corridor to cooperate with the State’s Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA) and the interventions put in place to manage the traffic.
“Pending when repairs will be carried out by the Federal Government, the Lagos State Government has alerted Motorists on the failed Deck-on-Pile Bridge at Ijora Olopa inbound Ijora Oloye, while releasing traffic diversion.
“The following routes have been mapped out to minimize inconvenience;
“Motorists from Eko Bridge are advised to utilize Iganmu/Sifax to access Ijora Oloye or Apapa.
“Motorists from Iddo heading to Ijora-Oloye/Apapa will be diverted at the intersection underpass on a contra flow to reconnect at the U-Turn inwards Ijora-Oloye or Apapa.
“The Ministry appeals to Motorists who make use of the corridor to cooperate with the State’s Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA) and the interventions put in place to manage the traffic.
