By Emma Ogbuehi
Three months after Federal Government’s, pledge to commence repairs on the burnt Lagos Airport link bridge, there are no activities to that effect, further compounding the agony of commuters and other road users on that stretch of the State. The bridge, which links the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki expressway, was razed when a tanker conveying 44,000 litres of diesel burst into flames in January.
On a visit to the structure earlier in March, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Alhaji Babangida Hussaini, had assured that repair works would start by the end of that month. Hussaini added that he had the permission of the minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, to inspect the bridge.
“We have just concluded the technical evaluation. We have done the integrity test. What we are doing now is the procurement process. I can assure you that the contractor will start work on the bridge by the end of the month (March) because it is an important link road to the airport,” he reportedly said.
Three months after, work is yet to commence on the project, leaving commuters with untold hardship. Because of the closure of the bridge, motorists accessing Airport Road from Apapa, FESTAC Town and surrounding areas, are now forced to go through Oshodi – Anthony-Maryland, adding to the traditional chaotic traffic on that end. Same stress applies to those going towards Agege Motor Road through Bolade who now pass through Oshodi before making a detour.
Due to the pressure on the expressway, traffic snarl often extending from Anthony link bridge, Ikorodu Road up to Iyana Isolo on Apapa-Oshodi Road, is now a regular occurrence with attendant man-hour loss and exposure to street urchins and other criminal elements.
On Friday, many motorists on the road, were forced to abandon their vehicles by the road side because of heavy traffic on the road. A commercial bus driver, Tajudeen Alao, who spoke with our reporter, chronicled the pains of his colleagues on the road, saying that by the time they spend the whole day on traffic, they find it difficult to make their daily returns to the vehicle owners. “Oga, this thing no be small matter oh. Before we de go Ikorodu about four or five times in a day. Now, to complete one trip and return de hard us because of go slow on the road”, he narrated.
Joy Chiedozie, who works with a federal government agency in Ikeja, lamented that going to her office these days, is a huge task. “Getting up in the morning and realising that I will pass that hell of traffic between Toyota Bus Stop and Anthony Link Bridge, gives me considerable amount of pressure”, she said. Like Alao, she pleaded with the Federal Government to effect the necessary repairs on the Link Bridge, so that inbound Ikeja motorists will save the expressway pressure and lessen the traffic.
Residents are also calling for police presence on the road, especially at night to check the menace of traffic robbers on the stretch.