Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: As gridlock returns, govt considers opening alternative roads to ease congestion

The Federal Government has disclosed that it will urgently rehabilitate the alternative route around OPIC/Isheri in the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to ease the traffic jam and trouble road users face in the axis as a result of the ongoing reconstruction work on the major road.

Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Umar Bakare, said this in his reaction to the return of gridlock and road users agony to the road Thursday as contractors handling the reconstruction barricaded parts of the road and continued with the work.

The contractors had vacated the road as directed by the government days to the yuletide and new year holidays. And those plying the route had a big relief.

But the gridlock returned on Thursday after the festive season as the contractors resumed construction work on the expressway.

On Thursday, workmen who returned to the site on Tuesday were seen between Kara and OPIC on the Lagos-bound side. They were using earth-moving equipment to scarify some portions while at the same time laying fresh construction materials on other sections.

Also, officials of the Federal Roads Safety Corps and TRACE were seen controlling traffic around the OPIC/Fatgbems filling station.

Many have expressed worry over criminal activities by hoodlums between Berger and the Long Bridge, usually caused by the gridlock, usually worse at night.

Bakare said Julius Berger was working to quickly fix portions between Kara and Long Bridge that they could not complete before the holiday.

Bakare, who is in charge of Section One of the project which spans Ojota in Lagos to Sagamu Interchange, said alternative routes around OPIC and Isheri would be rehabilitated to ease congestion.

He said adjoining Isheri Road that passes in front of OPIC would be upgraded and made motorable to accommodate traffic spillover caused by diversions when work moves to the Ibadan-bound lanes.

The controller said that roads adjacent to the Otedola Bridge Section on the highway around CMD Road would also be made motorable to ease movement.

He, however, said it was impossible to create alternative routes on the Lagos-bound side between the Long Bridge and Kara where work was currently ongoing because the portion was a Right of Way for gas pipelines.

He said, “For the remaining permanent jobs, we are already on the drawing table with a traffic management plan, we are also discussing with other stakeholders like the Police, Federal Roads Safety Corps, and the agencies of Ogun and Lagos States in charge of traffic management, that is talking about LASTMA and TRACE.

“We are also discussing with ministries of Transportation, Works and Infrastructure in Lagos State. We are going to be making announcements about our operations on the road from time to time.”