It was gathered that the new features are part of the new design approved by the Federal Government to nip in the bud traffic congestions on the stretch of the road, which is the busiest road in Africa.

Apart from the service lanes, bus stops, and laybys, it was also gathered that the interchange planned for Lotto area of the road was part of efforts to decongest the road

Before now, there have been concerns over lack of bus stops and lay bays on the finished section with residents and commuters fearing that it might not solve traffic bottleneck associated with the road.

The project supervisor for Julius Berger Construction Plc, Solace Orlu, an engineer, confirmed the development. He told The Guardian that the additions were included in the new design for the road.

Orlu, who is also the Traffic Coordinator for Julius Berger Plc, explained that there are going to be service lanes in the built-up areas, like Ibafo, Arepo, Mowe, Aseese, Magboro where commuters could alight from buses.

He said: “ The projects have been redesigned. The ones completed are the main carriageways, vehicles are not supposed to park on these carriageways.

“There will be additional lanes added to the expressway so that if you are going through that area, you drive on the service lane”, he said.

Orlu stressed further that the road is now designed in such a way that motorists would not stop on the main carriageway, you but to keep driving to ensure a free flow of traffic.

He explained that the bus stops and lay bays would be on both sides of the service lanes.

On the proposed Interchange at Lotto, he promised that works would soon start, stressing that the project is being delayed due to the compensation issue.

“ The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing are sorting that out with residents and relevant religious bodies that are protesting against the project. We are not involved in that, the ministry is working on them but works will soon start on the project”, he added.

According to him, it is a normal thing that when you are doing construction works, some houses will be affected but they are resolving the issues.

This followed critical reactions from road users to the planned partial closure of the road during the period for intensive work, which will last for four months, beginning from August 3.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Adedamola Kuti, on Monday, said in consideration of the anticipated increase in traffic during the period, construction work on the affected sections of the road would be minimal.

“The partial closure will be there but there won’t be heavy construction during the period; only menial job that will not involve any serious restrictions will be done,” he said.

Kuti said work on the 1.4 kilometers portion of the road, stretching from the end of Berger Bus Stop to the Kara Cattle Market, would include construction of a drainage channel and expansion from two to three lanes on both sides.

A source at Julius Berger Nigeria, the construction company in charge of section one of the road stretching from old Toll Gate to Sagamu Interchange, however, said no work would be done under the bridge except to make it passable as an alternative route during the period of construction.

The source said, “We are hoping to start from Berger to the beginning of Kara Bridge with effect from Saturday, August 3. We are already working on the barriers for the diversion.  All vehicle movements will be on one side, which we will divide into two.

“We have put out a notice board to enable people to prepare for any inconveniences. The Kara Bridge is still okay. This is why we will be stopping at the beginning of bridge.”

A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who gave his name as Bolaji, said, “This road will be congested, and Ikorodu, which is supposed to be one of the alternative routes, is very bad. I feel that even if they are going to expand the road, they should do that after the Muslim holiday because there would be no route for commercial vehicle operators to pass. For instance, where will someone traveling home for the holiday to Sagamu or Ibadan pass?”

He said Julius Berger should consider working both day and night to reduce the time it would take to complete that section of the road as well as reduce motorists’ hardship.

Source: Punch