Lagos State Government has announced plans to provide multiple lay-bys in Ketu area of Lagos in order to provide an enduring solution to the perennial traffic jam experienced by motorists along Ikorodu Road during peak periods.
The project, which will comprise three-lane lay-bys on each side of the expressway, a shopping mall and car park, will be executed by Fountain Construction Company (FCC) Ltd within an estimated time-frame of six months.
Speaking at the stakeholders meeting on the project, the Acting Commissioner of Transportation, Prince Anofiu Olarenwaju Elegushi stated that the project, upon completion, will reasonably reduce travel time from CMS to Ikorodu to less than 45minutes.
He said that the State Government, leaning on the experience of the Iyana-Oworo multiple lay-bys, has continued to construct lay-bys to ease traffic flow in various areas of the State.
Elegushi also seized the opportunity to call on motorists to utilize the Vehicle Inspection Service Centres at Ojodu to determine the state of their vehicles and fix any problems before plying the roads since the State Government had put the Centre together to move away from the era of manual testing to a computerized and more accurate one.
He said the implementation of Alapere Traffic Improvement Phase II will afford commuters the opportunity of an alternative route to be used by the people.
The Acting Commissioner urged the stakeholders to put the lay by into proper use when completed, stating that lay-bys are not motor parks or garages where vehicles park but rather a loading and discharge point for commuters and motorists.
He warned that no transport union activities will be condoned at the lay-bys and hinted that a second pedestrian bridge will be constructed to complement the one already in existence.
While appealing to the stakeholders to support government’s efforts, Elegushi urged them to take ownership of various projects.
In his remarks, the representative of FCC Engr. Adeyemi Agboola stated that the project will be executed in phases to prevent disruption of the various activities in the area.
He listed the project details to include Klee-Clamp stalls, Automated Toilets, a 255m service lane and standard bus shelters on both sides along with multiple lay-bys of 115m by 40m (Ikorodu bound) and 140m by 140m at the Ojota bound end.
Also speaking at the event, the Oba of Ketu, Oba Isiaka Oyero Balogun expressed appreciation to the Governor for the various projects in the area and expressed the community’s desire for further development.
The event was attended by top government officials, the Sole Administrator of Agboyi-Ketu, Mr. Olatunji llelaboye and Sole Administrator of Ikosi-Isheri, Aremo Adewale Abdul.