Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway worsens, motorists, commuters groan over gridlock

By Dada Jackson

The Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway has become a nightmare for motorists and commuters alike who ply that road as a result of the unending gridlock along that corridor.

The road, which links Lagos with Ogun State, has over the years become so bad that motorists who ply it have nasty and agonising tales to recount on a daily basis.

Sometime in March 2018, the contract for the reconstruction of the road was flagged off at ground zero by Zik bus stop, very close to Ikeja Along bus stop.

The contract for the reconstruction of the road was awarded to Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc.

According to the then Director of Highways (South-West), Engineer Adebiyi, the provision for the funding of the project,was already captured in that year’s budget.

Two years on reconstruction work is yet to commence on the critical road which connects two neighbouring states of Lagos and Ogun.

It is pertinent to point out that about four months ago Julius Berger moved their equipment and some personnel to embark on some reconstruction work between Kola bus stop and Abukon bus stop.

The essence of commencing work from that point,is unclear to those who ply the road.

Some motorists and commuters who spoke with newstrends lamented the number of man hours that are wasted plying that route.

A commercial bus driver of the popular yellow painted faragon buses who gave his name as Sikiru said that sometimes it takes him more than two hours to commute between Tollgate and Kola bus stop due to the terrible and dilapidated state of the road.

According to him,in order to avoid the gridlock, he takes some inner streets so as to beat the traffic.

He said that because of the time they spend in the traffic, most of his fellow drivers hike transport fares in order to make up for the list hours.

Speaking in similar vein,a private car owner,who gave his name as Dr.Michael(surname withheld)said that government should mobilize the contractor working on the road for in his words” the pace of work on the road is very slow. Julius Berger should add more pep to the pace of work on the road as motorists and commuters alike are going through excruciating pain plying the road “.

He however commended the contractor for doing a very thorough job on the road up to the point that they have worked to.

But a textile dealer,Alhaja Risikat,who has her shop at Oshodi said that there was no ‘sense’ in starting the reconstruction work from Kola,adding that from Meiran bus stop to Casso bus stop,it is a no go area.

According to her,government should go the whole hog by fixing the road at least from U-Turn bus stop to Tollgate.

She said that in order to beat the traffic on the road,she leaves her house everyday by 4.30am.

The Federal Controller of Works,Lagos,Engineer Kayode Popoola told this reporter sometime ago,that Julius Berger was mobilized to fix the very bad portions between Kola and Abukon bus stops because of the uproar generated by the incessant falling of articulated vehicles along that axis.

According to him,Messrs Julius Berger has been mandated to do a thorough job on the very bad portions of the road.

He said” knowing the pedigree of Julius Berger,they will deliver a good and thorough job in line with the mandate given to them.

He said that he was optimistic, that something would soon be done on the reconstruction of the total length of the road.

He appealed ho motorists and commuters plying the route, to exercise more patience as the reconstruction would soon be completed.