By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has announced the closure of a part of the popular Ikorodu Road to rehabilitate the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge in two phases for 90 days.
The government said the closure of part of Ikorodu road due to the deplorable state of the asphalt pavement and expansion joints on the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge.
Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, in a statement on Thursday said traffic would be diverted at the bridge from Monday 22nd July, 2024 to carry out emergency repairs.
He said the repairs would be carried out in two phases for a duration of 90 days.
Osiyemi stated that the first phase of the repairs would cover the Ojota-bound lane while the Second Phase would cover the Yaba/Ojuelegba/Maryland bound lane.
He said consequently alternative routes had been mapped out for each phase of the repairs.
For the first phase of the repairs, Osiyemi said motorists heading to Ojota from Maryland/Yaba would be diverted into a counter flow on the lane inbound Maryland while motorists heading to Yaba from Ojota would continue their journeys on the same lane.
“Alternately, motorists from Berger, Magodo and Tollgate along Lagos Ibadan Expressway are advised to go through Alapere/Ogudu axis inward Gbagada/Anthony Oke Bridge to descend the ramp and access Ikorodu Road to continue their journeys.
“Motorists coming from Ikeja, Oregun and Kudirat Abiola Way are advised to use Opebi Link Bridge to connect Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way inwards Sheraton through Maryland to access Ikorodu Road and navigate their ways.
“Motorists from Jibowu are advised to make use of Ikorodu Road Service lane by Mobil Fuel Station/Bertola Engineering Equipment Company to access Gbagada/Ogudu axis to continue their journeys,” he said.
Osiyemi added that if they missed the turning by the Mobil Fuel Station and Bertola Engineering Equipment Company, they could also use Theodolite to link Anthony Oke Ramp and join Ikorodu Road again to access Town Planning Way inwards Gbagada/Ogudu/ Alapere axis to proceed with their journeys.
“Motorists from Jibowu heading to Ikeja, Magodo, Berger and Lagos Ibadan Expressway can use Maryland inwards Mobolaji Bank Anthony to link Sheraton/Opebi to Allen Avenue/Obafemi Awolowo Way and access Nurudeen Olowopopo Road to continue their journeys.
“Alternately, after going through the Opebi Link Bridge, they can also make use of Kudirat Abiola Way to access Ikosi Road inwards Mobolaji Johnson Avenue/7up to connect Nurudeen Olowopopo Road and access their desired destinations,” he said.
For the second phase of the project, Osiyemi said motorists inward Maryland/Yaba from Ojota would be diverted into a counter flow on the lane inbound Ojota while motorists from Maryland would continue their journey on the same lane.
He added that motorists from Berger, Magodo and Toll gate could use Alapere inwards Gbagada to link the Anthony Oke Ramp to connect Ikorodu Road and access their desired destinations.
“Similarly, motorists coming from Ikorodu/ Ketu can utilize Ojota Ramp Bridge to link Alapere and continue their journeys as explained above.
“Motorists from Ikeja, Oregun and Kudirat Abiola Way are advised to use Opebi Link Bridge inwards Mobolaji Bank Anthony/ Sheraton and come out at Maryland to enter Ikorodu Road and continue their journeys.
“The aforementioned alternative routes for motorists heading to Ikeja, Magodo, Berger and Lagos Ibadan Expressway from Jibowu during the first phase are also available during the second phase of the repairs.
Osiyemi assured that sufficient traffic management personnel would be on ground across Lagos to minimise the forecasted discomfort and ensure steady flow of traffic.
He appealed to the good people of the state, especially motorists, to cooperate with the interventions put in place during the course of the repairs.
Osiyemi implored motorists to be patient as the partial bridge closure was a part of the traffic management plan for the maintenance works on the expansion joints and asphalt pavement of the bridge.
