Motorists Suffer Traffic Lockdown On Old Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Over Construction Work As TRACE Intensifies Traffic Control

OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos

Vehicular movement at the Itori-Lafarge-Papalanto axis of the old Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway has been locked-down since Sunday, 19th October, leaving hundreds of vehicles and trucks stuck in the stampede caused by ongoing construction work by Craneburg Construction Company.

DAILY INDEPENDENT on a visit to the axis on Tuesday found vehicles and trucks on standstill for days, with the traffic holdup stretching into several kilometres, prompting vehicles in desperation to frantically seek means to get out of the debacle, but had to grapple with the desperation of other drivers seeking escape, compounding the traffic bedlam, making it look intractable at the time of visit.

Hope was however rekindled when men of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, led by Cdr. Elias Omonayajo,the most Senior TRACE official, who coordinates and administer the day to day running and schedule of activity of the agency, by deploying advance traffic management techniques in collaboration with the construction company and Lafarge Cement Plc, to ensure effective traffic management is guaranteed, nonetheless the non-compliance and cooperation of the motoring public to traffic rules and regulations.

In his words, Cdr. Omonayajo said “the gridlock has been on for about three (3) days due to the ongoing reconstruction work on both sides of the expressway, but TRACE is here to control and mange the traffic for orderliness to prevail.

Furthermore, “It is very important that they adhere to our regulations, follow what we tell them especially at this point in time, so we can seamlessly ensure the movement of vehicular traffic. You can see the level of synergy we have with Lafarge, FRSC, the Police and other agencies here present to ensure that this goal is achieved.” He said.

Adding that the TRACE Agency had already issued a traffic advisory for articulated vehicles and others, advising those coming from Abeokuta to divert at Ita-Oshin inbound Oke-Ata to Ilaro and Papalanto, while those coming from Sango will take divert at Papalanto-Ilaro through Oke-Ata to Abeokuta.

Cdr. Omonayajo however debunked insinuations that the the traffic bedlam may last the next 2 weeks, saying his operatives are already engaged on standby 24/7 to ensure constant traffic movement at the axis, advising motorists to be patient and cooperate with his officials to speedily ease traffic movement.

Speaking on behalf of Craneburg Construction Company, Mr. Benedict Ebifiye, the Safety Supervisor, also corroborated that motorists have been stuck on the road for the past three days.
In addition, Mr. Ebifiye says, “We are working on only one lane, why you see some of our equipment on the second lane is that we are trying to provide palliative repairs to assist in decongesting the heavy traffic build up, while still making both lanes motorable at the moment.

“In less than two weeks’, this congestion is going to be over, because the concrete road is going to be open, and they will start using it. So this kind of situation will no longer be experienced around this area.” He stressed.

Earlier, in view of the traffic situation at the axis, Cdr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, TRACE PRO, on behalf of the Agency issued a traffic advisory, stating; “considering the traffic situation between Lakatabu area on both the inbound and outbound stretch of the Old Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway, as a result of the swampy nature of the road, opposite Lafarge Cement Company, traffic rerouting has been put in place by TRACE, to enable the construction company attend to the fail portion of the road in order to reduce the extent of delay and man hour lost in traffic.

“Consequently, articulated vehicles transiting from Abeokuta should go through Ita-Oshin- Oke-Ata/Ilaro/Papalanto and continue their journey from there; while those transiting from Ifo to Abeokuta should go through Ilaro-Oke/Ata-Abeokuta.” The statement reads.

While adding that the diversion is to prevent unnecessary delay which may arise from articulated vehicle breakdown, due the swampy nature of the road and it’s attendant consequences on other road users, Akinbiyi regretted any inconveniences the diversion might cause motorists..