• Lagosians lament slow pace of work

Motorists plying Lagos-Badagry Expressway have lamented the slow pace of work at Suru-Alaba Interchange bridge, being handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). The Suru-Alaba Interchange falls under Section Two of Lagos-Badagry Expressway project awarded during Babatunde Fashola administration. The construction would bring the project to “Second Rainbow’’ Bus stop area to link FESTAC access road, while the other section will connect Oshodi Apapa Expressway for vehicles heading towards Oshodi, Gbagada and Ojota. Although the project is expected to be delivered this year, commuters said the slow pace of work is affecting free flow of traffic, leading to chaotic traffic situations, and sometimes accidents, especially in Mile 2, Suru, Alaba, and Orile areas. A commercial diver, Osinachi Onyebuchi, said the construction has caused traffic along 2nd Rainbow to Apple junction, while many stranded commuters are forced to patronise commercial motorcyclists , which operation was banned in that area.

He added that both incoming and outgoing vehicles ply one lane, which makes the road congested leading to loss in man hours. He said: “The traffic is so much during the morning and evening rush hours. I often sleep on wheel as a result of traffic and shunned returning to pick passengers anymore. “Despite the hike in fuel price and time consumed for a trip, we still charge the normal price, which is a disincentive to us.” Another driver, Pius Udeh, lamented that the traffic situation is worse during the rains as the whole area is flooded due to the construction. “Apart from the traffic caused by the single liae, 2nd Rainbow, Apple Junction and Ago-Okota areas are usually flooded when it rains.” Lamenting the situation, a private motorist, Mr. Ofuse Obinna, also complained of lack of road signs or means of direction as he also finds it difficult to know the area to follow not to fall into the hands of Lagos Task Force officials, who are always around to prey on defaulting motorists. He pleaded with the construction officials to create road signs for road users to avoid falling prey to the task force members. But CCECC, the firm handling the project, lamented that recalcitrant motorists are making construction work difficult for the firm. The purchasing manager for CCECC on site, Li Dongxiang, told The Guardian that the activities of the drivers have made it hard for movement of materials across the 2nd Rainbow to the construction site, thereby creating heavy traffic along the road. According to him, the firm had pleaded with Lagos State government to open the median to enable the firm to move construction equipment to site , and commercial motorists took over the place immediately after it was opened. Dongxiang said the situation is hindering work on site. He pleaded with commercial motors to avoid the median and use their initial route to ensure quick movement of materials and early completion of the project.

The surveying engineer, Zhao Wutong, expressed optimism that the work will be completed within schedule if all stakeholders play their respective roles. Recall that the Permanent Secretary, Office of Infrastructure, Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Rotimi Thomas, recently said work on Suru-Alaba Link Bride has reached 50 per cent completion. “We are carrying out huge concrete works at the Alaba interchange. Previously, the deck had been finished. There is a box girder that needs to be fixed at Akinwande on the highway. “It is going to fly over the Apapa-Oshodi highway; for this segment we are 50 percent in it, ” he said.