BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Julius Berger’s ongoing Lagos-Shagamu Expressway project is getting more impetus as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of critical areas of the major highway are scheduled to commence August 3, 2019.
According to officials handling the project, the new phase would end in October, 2019, adding that within the period, there will be a major diversion of Lagos-bound traffic from Ogun river bridge (Kara), to Berger (New garage bus stop), onto the Shagamu-bound carriageway and narrowing of both Lagos and Shagamu-bound traffic into two lanes on the Shagamu-bound carriageway, respectively.
The expounded Shagamu-bound carriageway, according to the project offcials, will be divided using temporary crash barriers to provide two lanes each in both directions, while the Lagos-bound carriageway will be closed to enable the commencement of the reconstruction and rehabilitation within the stretch of 1.4km.
In anticipation of how the development could impact on road users, Julius Berger officials assured of measures being put in place to ameliorate the likely problems.
The officials said likely collision between moving vehicles, JBN vehicles and installed barriers, congestion due to heavy inflow of traffic during peak periods, into Ojodu berger and Isheri and congestion due to narrowing of carriageway are likely during the period of the reconstruction works.
Congestion due to broken down vehicles /road traffic crash on the road and congestion due to heavy inflow of traffic in and out of Berger (Lagos) were also identified as likely.
However, the JBN team in assuring of measures to assuage the road users’ fear, said there will be display of advanced warning signs of road narrowing, speed restriction signs as well as making sure flagmen are present.
The officials also said that flashing lights to be displayed at night time are also being planned, adding that collaboration with relevant agencies including the media for needed enlightenment, display of variable message signs in advance as well as providing emergency response crew on standby just as response time will be minimized by well-established lines of communication among the various agencies round the clock are central to the plan.
The construction giant added that slipways will be provided on both sides of the carriageways around Ibafo community to take traffic inward Ibafo and bus stops off the narrowed sections.
