Lekki Tollgate: Second Alternative Road Ready —LASG

As the Lekki Concession Company, LCC prepares to begin collection of tolls on the second tollgate on Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, the Lagos State Government has completed works on the second alternative road where motorists that do not want to pay toll can ply.

The LCC had announced that it will begin collection of tolls on the second toll gate at the Conservation Plaza between Chevron Headquarters and Oluwanisola House by 12 a.m on 16 December.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Public-Private Partnership, PPP, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi inspected the 3.6 km road on Wednesday, saying that motorists that do not want to pay tolls can start using the road as from 16 December when the toll collections begin.

He said the new alternative route could be accessed from the expressway by turning into Chevron Drive from Chevron Roundabout, then turning right after the Chevron headquarters complex, taking the road running behind Chevron Complex, passing the Conservation Plaza, the Scintilla Events Centre, through Poroku village and eventually linking the expressway just before Oluwa Nisola House.

Gbeleyi said the road was not in existence before now and that the area was water-logged before government built the alternative route, saying that with the completion of the road, cost of properties in the area would certainly go up.

“The place was bushy when we started. Properties in the area will move up now that the road has been completed. We have the culvert in place and street light, this is not just an alternative route, but one that will scale up property values in the area.

“By the time we start toll collection, the alternative route will be ready for use. It is a new road. Several communities in the area will benefit from the new road as they never had a road before now,” he stated.

Gbeleyi said the width of the road is 7.3 metres and it is wide enough for vehicles to ply, adding that according to the contractual agreement with the LCC, there is supposed to be a third tollgate. He said the government would also build a  third alternative route.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga