The Federal Government has announced the diversion of traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with effect from today. The traffic diversion which is for a period of six days is to allow contractors speed up construction works.
This disclosure is contained in a statement issued by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, on Sunday.
Popoola said the diversion is to enable Julius Berger, contractor handling section one of the project, to lay asphalt between Arepo and Warewa, a distance of one and a half kilometres.
Popoola explained that there is the need to prepare the ground around Punch area, hence the need for the traffic diversion to speed up construction works adding that the traffic diversion would be on the Lagos bound carriageway.
While appealing for understanding from commuters, Popoola said that adequate arrangements have been made for traffic regulatory agencies to manage the construction zone to avert gridlock.
He said, “The Federal Government is desirous of completing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project by next year, so there is need to increase the tempo of activities on the road.
“Julius Berger will asphalt between Arepo and Warewa, therefore there is going to be diversion of traffic for six days. The public should please bear with the Federal Government.’’
The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway is a 127.6-kilometre expressway connecting Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State and Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city.
The expressway which is the oldest in Nigeria, is also the major route to the northern, southern and eastern parts of Nigeria and is the busiest inter-state route in Nigeria which constitutes one of the largest road networks in Africa.
The contract for the reconstruction of the expressway which was flagged off in July 2013 by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the immediate past President, was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria and Reynolds Construction Company Limited at a sum of 167 billion Naira, equivalent to $838,986,290.
Two sections of the expressway will be reconstructed and this includes Section I (Lagos to Sagamu Interchange) and section II (Sagamu Interchange to Ibadan).
