Press Releases

Apapa-Oshodi Expressway To Be Partially Closed To Traffic From October 23, 2008

Oct 15, 2008 - The ever-busy Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will be partially closed to traffic from Thursday, October 23, 2008 the Lagos State Government has announced.

Coming barely a fortnight after the Third Mainland Bridge was re-opened for traffic after nearly two months partial closure, the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will be partially closed in order to carry out piling operations for the construction of the Okota-Itire Overhead Link bridge.

Also the Government has advised the members of the public who may experience any problems or wish to make any suggestions or give advice to enhance smooth traffic during the period of partial closure to contact the Government through the under-listed mobile phone numbers: 07027955931, 07027955932 and 07027955933

Announcing the partial closure at a joint press conference at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre Alausa, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Works, Engineer Ganiyu Johnson said the operation which, according to him, will be in three phases would last a total of 120 days.

Engr. Johnson said the first phase, which involves piling operation on the Oshodi-bound side of the expressway, will last for a period of 45 days during which only heavy-duty trucks will be allowed passage in some sections of the road while light vehicles will be diverted.

During this period, light vehicles going to Oshodi from Apapa are expected to drive through Adeshina Street (by Ijesha Bus-stop), Agunlejika Street (Agunlejika Bus-stop), while vehicles going to Surulere could drive through Ijesha Road-Lawanson/Itire Road-Iyana-Itire and link up to their destinations, Engnr. Johnson said.

According to him, vehicles going to Surulere are also advised to drive through Aguda Road while those going to Ilasa/Mushin area could drive through Babalola/Pako-Eleja/Itire Road.

The second phase of the closure, which is also expected to last 45 days, Engnr. Johnson said, will begin immediately after the first phase and will be in reverse order with the road partially closed to traffic going to Apapa from Oshodi while piling operation is carried out on the Apapa-bound section of the new link bridge.

“Motorists from Oshodi are advised to drive through Iyana-Isolo-LASPOTECH Roundabout-Abimbola Way-Bello Street-Godwin Omonuwa-Ibe Road-Cele Okota Road, while those going to Apapa could either drive through Cele Bus stop or Ago/Okota-Apple Junction (Mile 2) for Amuwo-Odofin, FESTAC and Satellite Town bound vehicles”, he said.

The Special Adviser also directed motorists from Oshodi to drive through Chessborough Way (Limca Road) by Hassan Bus stop-Abimbola Way-Bello Street-Taiwo Street-Godwin Omonuwa-Ibe Road to Cele/Okota, while those going to Apapa are advised to drive through Ago/Okota Road through Apple Junction (Mile 2) to Amuwo-Odofin, FESTAC and Satellite Town.

The third phase of the closure which is expected to last 30 days, Engnr. Johnson said, will involve the partial closure of the two sides of the Expressway (Oshodi-bound and Apapa-bound traffic) in order for the contractors to complete the super-structural work on the bridge.

The Special Adviser appealed to Lagosians to bear with the State Government by obeying the traffic officers deployed to direct traffic while the partial closure lasts adding that directional signs have also been put in place to reduce to the barest minimum any stress likely to arise as a result of the exercise.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Senior Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said the areas concerned had been thoroughly surveyed adding that all abandoned vehicles along the alternative routes would be cleared while there would be no parking along such streets for the duration of the diversion.

Appealing to motorists using the routes to obey traffic officers deployed to control traffic during the period, Opeifa who said no less than 200 members of the State’s Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) have been mobilized to control traffic and ensure obedience to traffic rules and regulations, pointed out that all the alternative routes had been rehabilitated and were in motorable condition adding that everything was being done to ensure safety of lives.

In his remarks at the conference, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Segun Ayobolu, expressed gratitude to members of the press for the success recorded during the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge pointing out that the it was the largely due to the cooperation of the media that the exercise was concluded without much stress.

Appealing to the media to continue to partner with the State Government, Ayobolu declared, “Today Lagos is a construction city. As we go on, their will be slight inconveniences, but the ultimate benefit is for the entire people of Lagos State”.

Also present at the conference were the Commissioner for Transportation, Professor Bamidele Badejo, Chief Executive Officer of LASTMA, and former Commissioner of Police of Lagos State, Mr. Young Arabame, general Manager LASTMA and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation among other government officials.