Yuletide: FG Frees Lagos-Ibadan Expressway For Traffic

• Dismantles barriers at the construction site

To facilitate the hitch-free flow of vehicular traffic during the Yuletide, the Federal Ministry of Works has removed existing barriers on Section One of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan Expressway construction project.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports, the ministry apparently took the action preparatory to effectively manage the heavy vehicular traffic expected during the coming holiday period.

The reports indicated that the site workers were seen deploying heavy-duty equipment to remove crash barriers and other diversion points to ensure the free flow of traffic on the OPIC U-Turn section of the highway.

Already, motorists plying the route have applauded the government action as a huge relief to them given that it has become a regular sight for many to sometimes spend between four and five hours in gridlock because of the ongoing construction work.

Director of Federal Highways for Southwest, Mr. Adedamola Kuti, who supervised the re-opening around OPIC, said the Federal Government earlier promised to re-open the highway to traffic on Thursday but brought it forward to ease gridlock.

Kuti said because of the festive season, all obstructions on Section One, which spans Ojota in Lagos to Sagamu interchange, were removed yesterday (Monday, December 12).

Offering insight on the government’s gesture, the Director said; “As part of our Ember-Months programme, there was an announcement we made that all barriers at road construction sites will be removed by December 15 to allow for free movement this season.

“So, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, we have already attained a level to which we can allow those barriers to be removed. So, rather than wait till Thursday, December 15, just as we did at the other section from Old Toll Gate up to Otedola Bridge, which we opened to traffic last week, we have also completed this stretch up to the level where we can allow movement”.

He also said all construction would be halted on Section Two of the project, which spans Sagamu Interchange to Ojoo in Ibadan on Thursday, to further boost movement ahead of the Yuletide.

Kuti further hinted that the contractors would return to the site in January to complete the project, adding that the Federal Ministry of Works was targeting delivery by the first quarter of 2023.

While blaming some unforeseen circumstances, including heavy rainfall, for slowing down construction hence the new targeted delivery date in 2023, the Director said the police and traffic regulatory agencies would take over the highway and thanked motorists for their patience during the period of construction.

Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner in Ogun State, Lanre Bankole has assured all those plying the road of tight security, stressing that the free flow of traffic would assist in taming crime and criminality on the highway.

The Police boss, who noted that highway trading, which worsens the gridlock, would also end, said; “The opening of the road would certainly ameliorate the security situation in this area. Hawkers will not have any place any longer.”

Also applauding the development, Zonal Commanding Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in charge of Lagos and Ogun states, Assistant Corps Marshal Peter Kibo said removing the barriers was in anticipation of heavy traffic ahead of this year’s Christmas season.

“We thank God. Today, Julius Berger decided to open this place, even before the day that we planned, that is the 15th of this month, by the Federal Ministry of Works.

“So, this is a great achievement and a great relief for us and the motoring public. And we will continue to manage the road and traffic very well,” Kibo said.

While urging motorists to drive safely, observe speed limits and avoid reckless driving, the FRSC Commander said officers would be on hand to enforce the laws and ensure that people arrive at their destinations safely.

In his remarks, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Commander Adeloye Babatunde, who represented his boss, Corps Commander, and Chief Executive Officer Olaseni Ogunyemi, assured all of the synergies with other agencies to ensure hitch-free travels.