Workers and passengers experienced a tough time on Monday morning as the government commenced the repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge.
Our correspondent gathered that all the workers, passengers and motorists trapped in the gridlock groaned and moaned.
There was gridlock from Charly Boy Bus Stop to Anthony. The situation was the same on the Ikorodu Road where hours of traffic jam was experienced.
Onyebuchi Ejiogu who works on the Island said the closure would surely create some inconveniences.
However, he said the repairs were long overdue since it had taken a long time since major repair work on the bridge was carried out.
“No doubt, the closure will cause some inconveniences. I even think the repairs are coming too late. It is better we endure now than to allow it to deteriorate before they are carried out. There should be proper enforcement of traffic rules on the alternative routes to reduce the anticipated gridlock,” Ejiogu said.
A motorist, Uche Ochinawata, urged the government to ensure that the repairs were enduring.
He urged motorists to avoid using their vehicles all the time to help ease the traffic jams which the closure would cause.
He, however, appealed to commercial bus drivers and okada riders not to cash in on the situation to charge passengers exorbitantly.
“The repairs are for the benefit of all of us. We hope the government would ensure that the right materials are used. May I also urge commercial bus operators not to see the situation as an opportunity to rip the passengers off,” Ochinawata said.
A passenger, who works as a clerk in a store on Lagos Island, Gbenga Ogunfowokan, said, “I live in Ketu, so you can imagine what kind of apprehension people like me have about these repairs of the bridge.
“The traffic snarl it will cause is one problem.
Traffic going to Lagos Island from the mainland was diverted at Iyana Oworonsoki to the Anthony interchange into the Ikorodu Road and onwards to Eko Bridge.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, had said, “Vehicles from the Lagos end of the bridge (from Obalende, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki) will be diverted from the Third Mainland Bridge at Adeniji Adele Interchange towards Carter Bridge to link Iddo interchange.
“Between 12 noon and 12 midnight, vehicles approaching from Oworonshoki and Ikeja/Toll gate/Ikorodu Road end of the bridge will be diverted at Oworonshoki Interchange to Ikorodu Road (via Anthony interchange) to Funsho Williams Avenue to Eko Bridge and on.”
Culled from Channels
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