It was a hectic day for motorists and commuters heading towards Lagos Island yesterday following the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for repairs, which began last Saturday. The repair works, which will end on November 6 caused a traffic snarl on the roads leading to the
11.8 kilometre bridge and alternative routes to and fro Lagos Island.
Vehicles moved at snail speed while traffic law enforcement agents had their hands full, trying to control the unprecedented traffic build up at the major arteries in the state. Daily Sun observed that as early as 7:30 am the entire Adeniji Adele interchange on Lagos Island was filled with vehicles as Oworonshoki bound vehicles were prevented from plying the Third Mainland Bridge.
The gridlock, for motorists bound for the Island, started from Charly Boy Bus Stop near Gbagada while traffic on Ikorodu Road stretched to Ojota axis up till 10am. Also, traffic gridlock was evident at Herbert Macaulay Way, Iddo, Carter Bridge, Oyingbo and other alternative routes.
Motorists plying Lagos- Abeokuta Expressway also had their fair share of the gridlock as a cement-laden truck overturned at Ahmadiyya Bus Stop, littering the road with bags of cement, but it was later removed by LASTMA towing vehicle. Gbagada Expressway-Anthony axis was equally busy throughout owing to diversion of traffic from Oworonshoki interchange.
As scheduled, by 12:08pm the entire Ikorodu Road was blocked, ditto other alternative routes. Commuters, who spoke to newsmen decried their ordeal, wondering how they would cope for the four months the repairs were expected to last.
According to Mr. Taiwo Oyekan, who works with a private firm on the Island, the situation was so excruciating that he was contemplating transfer from that axis. He noted that transport fares had been jacked up, pointing out that in spite of the alternative routes provided by the state government, the traffic gridlock was frustrating.
A middle-age woman, Mrs. Tayo Shonibare said she spent four hours from Ikorodu to Ojuelegba. Uche Okoli said he spent four hours between Onipanu to Victoria Island, saying he had to abandon his car somewhere along the road to board BRT bus, which eventually took him to CMS.
At Apapa, a truck conveying human faeces overturned on Apapa Bridge spilling its contents on the bridge. It also halted traffic flow on the bridge for hours until the LASTMA moved in to clear the road. However, the opening of the 3rd Mainland Bridge was delayed contrary to the 12 pm time as scheduled.
Daily Sun learnt that the bridge was opened around 2:45 pm to enable those coming from Island to navigate Mainland. A statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said: “Vehicles from the Lagos end of the bridge (from Obalende, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki) would 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 coming 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 so on.”
