Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: State Govt Is In Constant Consultation With Federal Govt To Ease Gridlock – Says Commissioner

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to continue consultation with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on Traffic Management of the construction corridor of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway even as the work is ramping up to completion.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, who disclosed this during his working tour of the construction zones at Opic, Kara, and Berger axis, 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.

Reiterating 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) and its Ogun State counterpart, TRACE, are working in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC) to ease the gridlock on the corridor.

Oladeinde expressed sympathy on the plight of motorists plying the corridor, appealing for calm as the construction works will soon be completed.

Giving updates on the construction works, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr. Umar Bakare explained that the three existing lanes which the contractor usually worked with had to be reduced to two at each of the construction sections, thereby resulting in traffic buildup. He, however, assured that the FRSC, LASTMA, and TRACE officers are usually on site to control traffic.

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 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.

On Eko Bridge, Engr. Bakare stated that the rehabilitation works of the bridge are 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 it is completed, 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.
He solicited the cooperation of the motoring public in terms of compliance with traffic rules and regulations which will further improve movement around the construction zones.