21st February, 2011
For a long time, Adeniran Ogunsanya Road in Surulere Local Government, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria had been in deplorable condition. The 1.024km single carriage way stretches from Alhaji Masha/Shitta roundabout to Bode Thomas Street.
In the past, the road was usually congested by heavy traffic and increased commercial activities. Residential buildings have been illegally converted to commercial use without regard for improvement of available infrastructure.
The situation thus called for urgent upgrade of the road to meet up with the increased volume of traffic. The road was in a really bad shape before the Lagos State government’s intervention in May, 2009.
Motorists usually spend about 45 minutes from Shitta to Bode Thomas junction, especially at peak periods, a journey that would have taken less than five minutes.
Contract for the upgrading/expansion of the road to a dual carriageway was awarded to Messrs HFP Nigeria Limited.
The road, which used to be a 10-metre single carriageway has now been upgraded and expanded with befitting road furniture. The road has a walkway, street lights and service ducts among others.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson said the road formed part of the inner ring roads currently under construction.
“The ring roads are Adeniran Ogunsanya, Akerele, Ogunlana, Adelabu, Babs Animashaun and Bode Thomas. The ring, if completed will compliment Funso Williams, Eric Moore and Lagos Badagry Expressway and enhance commerce and economy in Surulere, being the hub of the local government,†he said.
“The project has been executed to high engineering standard and I enjoin motorists to be patient and obey all traffic rules, especially at the median openings, to avoid traffic gridlock,†Johnson stated.
Commissioning the road, Governor Babatunde Fashola said the road was part of democratic dividends, and that the neighbourhood where the road was sited is called New Lagos. He said the road had undergone various face-lifts in the past which had not been comprehensive and effective.
“However, since we started the regeneration, from Funso Williams to Eric Moore Road to Orile and the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, life is increasingly better. The face and lifestyle of this famous middle class settlement is improving by the day,†he said.
Promising that more ongoing road projects in the area would soon be completed, Fashola enjoined residents and Community Development Associations to keep and protect the asset from all forms of abuse.