By Emmanuel Ukudolo
Reprieve is underway for many residence and those who have businesses to transact in Ikoyi and Lekki, who had to endure the regular the heavy traffic in Victoria Island. This is because a new bridge that would link Bourdillon in Ikoyi, and Admiralty Way, Lekki has recently been completed.
Beyond linking these high profile communities, it is designed to serve as a strategic by-pass for motorists going to Ikoyi, Lagos Island and Mainland and to reduce travel time along Falomo Bridge, Alfred Rewane Road, Independence Bridge and Ahmadu Bello Way, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engineer Obafemi Hamzat said in Lagos.
By design the type of the bridge is berthing for the first time in Nigeria it would be similar but slightly difference from the type already in South Africa. From the drawing, it is breathtaking; a whole massive structure suspended mid way by two giant pillars held down with 170 metres special cable.
It is built to a total length of 1,358 metres; 8 metres carriage ways and a walkway of 2.0 metres all on both sides and a clearance of 9 metres above high water . So far work is 72 percent completed with 87 metres pylon from water level to secure it for decades.
Hamzat anticipates a rise in property value as a result of the bridge. Besides, he believes that it will improve the living standard of people and enhance social interaction among them. On the whole 315 skilled and unskilled jobs was generated throughout the duration of the job. For the commissioner, the project availed learning opportunities and transfer of knowledge from officials of Messrs Julius Berger to indigenous engineering students whom he said have made the location a tourism destination.
“The project started with roadwork of 311.5 metres that comprises roundabout at Admiralty Way, Lekki and ended with another roadwork of 338.70 metres that comprises a roundabout at Bourdillon Road, Alexander Avenue at Ikoyi”, Hamzat noted.
Beyond the bridge, the state is also working on a multiagency structure (three in the same location) that will bring together all state’s agency operating from hired premises across the state. On paper, it is a masterpiece of architecture with two floor parking area and a parking space earmarked for 600 vehicles. It will come with elevators, stairways and utilities like gymnasium, restaurant, conference areas and reception with pedestrian interlinks, connecting the three structures.
Hamzat explained that work is also in progress on the 7 kilometres Ibeshe Road dualised with walkways, conceived to eliminate flooding and improve traffic flow in the area. On the Lagos/Badagry Expressway, the commissioner said the road was initially constructed by the Lagos State Government in 1974 before it was taken over by the Federal Government in 1977, adding that it was conceived then as part of the West African sub regional link road extending to Seme.
For him, the concept of the Lagos Badagry Expressway (LBE) was a 10 lane carriage way that incorporates a light rail transport on the road median and a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. He explained that the first lot extends from Eric Moore to Mazamaza, handled by Messrs Julius Berger (road) and China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). He said that construction of the road was phased due to financial constraints but that the second lot, from Mazamaza to Okokomaiko has been awarded to CCECC after a competitive biding process.
He insisted that the LBE was conceived as part of government’s plan for tourism development in the area and to open up access to the strong markets on the African sub-region, create job and reduce man hours lost to traffic gridlock and add value to properties domiciled in the area.
The commissioner equally spoke on the Ago Palace Way road project which he said is at advance stage. It is built to a total length of 1,860 metres with an average width of 19.4 metres. He said provision is made for 80 mm interlocking stones, covered drains and 1.5 m walkways in addition to 4-way service duct at 250 metres interval. “It comes with street lights with alternative power supply, median barriers, road signs and other furniture”, he said, noting that the axis is a high traffic density area.
“The road serves as a major link between Okota, Isolo, Ejigbo, Ikotun, Ijegun, Amuwo Odofin and its environs which has witnessed tremendous growth over the years. The road in its original form cannot support the volume of traffic, the pavement and other hydraulic facilities had also failed”, the commissioner explained, stressing that the development had engendered perennial traffic jam in the area. He is however optimistic that completion of the Okota-Itire Link Bridge, Ibeh road and Ago Palace Way Extension will make things better while completion of phase three to four of the ongoing rehabilitation of the LBE will completely ease traffic congestion for Lagosians domiciled in the axis.
