… As new flyovers, roads ease commuting across metropolis
By Kehinde Aderemi
For decades, it was the defining signature of the Lagos metropolis. Everywhere you moved, a traumatising, crawling traffic awaited you on the roads in virtually all parts of the state. Gruelling gridlocks were the order of the day. Everyone agreed that traffic crisis was one ill that could never be surmounted in the commercial capital of West Africa.
But these days, the situation is changing, and motorists are exulting. Lagos has, steadily yet surely, metamorphosed from the crawling city to a moving metropolis. And encomiums are being poured on the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the glaring changes.
Residents of communities within the Ikorodu axis were happy when the past administration of Governor Fashola began constructing the new Lagos road from Ikorodu to Mile 12.
But no sooner had the road been commissioned than the usual traffic returned, ensured by commercial bus operators at Mile 12. They would stop the danfo buses right in the middle of the road for passengers to board and alight. Then the government constructed an embankment between the expressway and the service lane. Commercial buses were also banned from the expressway. Since then, driving from Ikorodu to Mile 12 has become a near-seamless ride.
Recently, the state government unveiled a number of landmark projects that would make commuting even easier in Lagos. Between May 15 and 19, the state governor commissioned a number of roads, pedestrian bridges, flyovers, lay-bys and segregated bus terminals, among others.
The first was the pedestrian bridge at Ojodu Berger, which is the longest in the country. The 98-metre bridge also has lay-bys and a slip road.
At the event, the governor said his administration was determined to reduce the traffic jams on Lagos roads. He said the Ojodu Berger axis had been discovered to be a major traffic flashpoint in the state, one that required immediate attention.
“What we set out to achieve with this project was to ensure smooth flow of traffic along the express, safeguard the lives of our people, who had to run across the express and project the image of a truly global city to our visitors. Today, we are delighted that we have not only succeeded in transforming the landscape of this axis but with the slip road, laybys and pedestrian bridge, we have given a new and pleasant experience to all entering and exiting our state,” he said. He promised that his government would build a food court and an interstate bus terminal in the axis to enable buses coming from outside Lagos drop and load passengers while intercity transportation system would move commuters within the city.
“If your neighbourhood is experiencing traffic challenges, rest assured that we would soon be there. We will always ensure that promises made are promises kept. We will continue to rely on the support of all segments of the population for regular tax payments, obeying the rule of law and protection of public infrastructure. That is the only way we can progress and achieve our goal of being one of the world’s top centres for business, entertainment and leisure,” he said.
In Abule Egba, commuters and motorists are jubilant that the new flyover had reduced traffic in the axis. And in Ajah, the perennial traffic along the Lekki-Ajah axis is considerably thinning out, as a result of the new flyover in the area.
It was gathered that the new flyover at Abule Egba was completed within 13 months while that of Ajah was done in 10 months.
The Ajah Bridge is a 160 metres-long dual carriageway with a total length of 620 metres, while the Abule Egba Bridge is 1.3km with a water fountain. Both bridges have other features, including traffic signalisation, street lighting, walkways, service ducts and a drainage system, among others. Both projects were christened Jubilee Bridges, ostensibly to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the state.
Lagos State Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, commended Governor Ambode for the timely completion of Abule Egba Bridge. He said commercial transport operators in the area were grateful that the bridge would eliminate loss of man-hour usually experienced due to traffic congestion in the axis.
He said: “For us as transporters, the bridge will help to boost our business, as we will make more money due to free flow of traffic. It will also greatly reduce the amount of money we spend on maintenance of our buses.”
Ambode said the Ajah Bridge was built improve connectivity in the axis and facilitate economic growth, while the construction of the Abule-Egba Bridge was to open up other areas of the state and improve the lives of residents in the area.
At Ajah, Ambode said the people of the area were, for long, traumatised by the terrible daily gridlock that crippled business activities, causing loss of valuable man-hours and revenues.
“The bridge would eliminate the traffic jam usually experienced on the road while the 2.7km Freedom Road and 2.2km Admiralty Way would provide an alternative route to the Lekki/Ikoyi Bridge, thereby, easing traffic at Lekki Phase 1.
“We had to give this project priority because of its strategic importance to the economic growth of the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the Ibeju-Lekki-Epe axis. This axis will play a key role in the future prosperity of Lagos State, as the home to many multi-billion naira private investments in the Lekki Free Trade Zone as well as the upcoming seaport and airport. We’re also looking at activating the Badore jetty in line with efforts to commence reforms in the state’s water transportation efforts,” he noted.
At Abule Egba, the governor told thousands of the residents that the government was unhappy that the commercial and social activities in the area had, over the years, been riddled by heavy gridlock, hence his administration’s decision to redesign the traffic flow chart of the axis to ensure better connectivity between Lagos and Ogun States.
“This bridge signposts the beginning of a new era of development that would enhance the standard of living of the people in this axis with the provision of this infrastructure,” Governor Ambode said. He assured that the on-going Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) lane from Oshodi to Abule Egba would be followed by another BRT lane from Abule Egba to the Ogun State border. He also assured that other roads dislocated in the area in the process of building the bridge would be rehabilitated, and a shopping mall constructed opposite the Oke-Odo Market to boost economic activities in the axis.
At Epe, where a number of roads were also commissioned, Ambode announced that a standard eight-lane road would be constructed from Ikorodu to Epe via Agbowa, Itoikin and Ijebu-Ode.
He said: “It gladdens my heart to see that two years into the tenure of this administration, the dream of transforming Epe and its environs into a modern city is becoming a reality. The narrow roads are being redefined to give Epe a face-lift.”
Also in the Amuwo-Odofin/Oriade axis, residents and workers in the Kirikiri area are in a jubilant mood. Shortly after the Ambode government completed and opened the Dillion Street, a road that was completely abandoned for over 15 years, the government is currently constructing the Happy Home Avenue.
Chairman of Community Development Committee (CDC) in Ogudu, Comrade Adebayo Maradesa, thanked Governor Ambode for the multi-faceted projects implemented at Ojodu Berger, saying that apart from saving lives and ensuring free flow of traffic, the aesthetics of the area had also been greatly improved upon.
Chief Yinka Tobun, CDC Chairman in Epe, said the community was grateful to Ambode for transforming the rusty, sleepy town of Epe within a short time.