The contractor handling the on-going rehabilitation of bad portion on Lagos Badagry Expressway is expected to complete work within the next two weeks, Lagos State Government has said.
The state government had on Tuesday, directed the construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, to get to site and rehabilitate the bad portions on the Lagos-Badagry, without further delay.
The Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, who disclosed this to newsmen said contractor has been mobilized to site and commenced work on Wednesday with the clearing of all clogged drainages with the aim of allowing free flow of storm water before the rehabilitation of the road proper will be carried out within the specified period mentioned above.
Adeyoye, noted that the non-chalant and indiscipline acts by the public was responsible mainly for the degradation level of the road and called for attitudinal change of citizenry for the way forward in the state and the country in general.
Adeyoye stated, “Rehabilitation work has started on Lagos Badagry Expressway. The contractor is expected to complete the work, both the clearing of drainages and fixing of the road within the next two weeks.
“The situation will change for good, I can assure you. Mr Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is committed to making life easier for the people and he is not sleeping over the matter.
“That road was built 10 years ago and meant to last for 40 to 50 years, but the bad habit and uncared attitude of the public has brought it to the present state.
“The road was constructed to carry certain tonnage of load per day but what do we have today, heavily loaded trucks and articulated vehicles have taken over the road with no regard for road etiquette, discipline rules and regulation.
“Until we decide to have an attitudinal change and reorientations on use of public infrastructure, we will continue to have this challenge all over again.
“The successive state governments have committed billions of naira into reconstruction of that corridor. For how long can government sustain this.
“Government can’t do it alone without the support of the public. We need to live responsibly.”
According to the special adviser, two major channels that discharge water to the lagoon in the axis located around Signal Barracks and Mile-2 Jetty had been totally clogged with all sorts of materials such as disused tyres, peb-bottles, and other nondegradable waste.
“When the contractor commenced work today (Wednesday), while desilting the drainages, several disused tyres and other nondegradable waste were removed.
“I want to appeal to the public and road users along the axis to be patient and give all necessary support to contractors working on the road. Everything is being done to restore sanity and succour to the road in the interest of the general public.” Adeyoye pleaded.
It would be recalled that there had been litany of complaints to relevant authorities over bad portions on the expressway, particularly under the Mile-2 overhead bridge which often cause heavy-duty vehicles and others to fall, resulting in gridlock.
Residents have been subjected to horrible experiences due to the deplorable state of the road as motorists get stranded for several hours in gridlock which has been compounded by high influx of tankers and containerised trucks spilling over to Oshodi-Apapa Expressroad.
The current situation was further compounded by heavy flooding as a result of persistent rainfall in the state which made both sides of the road impassable for motorists.
