Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered contractors working on multi-faceted expansion projects at the ever busy Berger Bus Stop on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to work day and night to ensure completion by December.
He spoke at the weekend when he carried out extensive inspection of on-going projects across the state.
The governor said the directive became imperative in view of the strategic importance of the axis being the major gateway to the state.
The expansion projects at Berger include the construction of about 700 metres slip road through which traffic outward Lagos-Ibadan Expressway can connect Omole Phase Two, Magodo Phase One and Olowoora.
The road, which was designed with drainage channels, sidewalks and street light, is about six metres wide and can conveniently accommodate two vehicles at a time.
Apart from the pedestrian bridge, which has been completed, there are also expanded lay-bys and reservation areas at both sides of the Berger Bus Stop to facilitate easy pulling off of commercial and private vehicles from the main expressway.
Massive road improvement, construction of lay-by and reservation projects are equally on-going under the bridge.
Ambode, who was accompanied by his top officials, also ordered the construction of iron barricade under the newly completed pedestrian bridge to compel usage so as to achieve its main purpose of saving lives and facilitating free flow of traffic.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Ganiyu Johnson, who briefed the governor on the work done so far on the Berger projects, said the projects, upon completion, will give Berger a new befitting look and ensure permanent removal of gridlock hitherto associated with the area.
“The idea is that we should have a reservation area for our commercial buses and also a reservation area on top. In the phase one of it, we have on both sides about 200 metres of reservation area. For instance, vehicles coming from upland and wanting to discharge passengers have been accommodated as we have cleared the road further down and we have about three to four base underneath the bridge.
“We have also improved Wakati Adura, Ijaye Road and Isheri Road in such a way that there will not be any traffic gridlock anymore by the time we complete this project and there will be a free flow of traffic around the whole place. We are also moving the roundabout at PWC forward a little bit to Wakati Adura area and channelise the place just to improve traffic flow,” Johnson said.
The governor also inspected the newly completed lay-by at Car Wash Bus Stop in Oworonsoki, which made it a total of four modern lay-bys constructed in Oworonsoki axis by the Ambode administration.
Ambode inspected the on-going construction of 1.65-kilometre slip road from Olopomeji in Oworonsoki to Ifako with under pass through which vehicles can make U-turn back to either Lagos Island or Oshodi through Gbagada and others.