The Lagos State Government promised minimal inconvenience for road users and residents during the reconstruction of Turnbull and Parkview intersections along the Gerrard Road corridor in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The information was disclosed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, during a stakeholders’ meeting at Ikoyi, focusing on the proposed junction improvement project on Thursday.
He claimed that the project was designed to address traffic challenges around the intersections and improve vehicular movement in the area.
According to him, the government had considered multiple methods to combat traffic challenges in the area, however resorted to a tolerable solution to residents and other stakeholders.
The project is aimed at improving current traffic conditions while reducing inconvenience to road users and residents.
Meanwhile, also commenting, the Director of Transport Engineering at the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Engineer Bolaji Folarin Bada, affirmed that channelised traffic flows, acceleration and deceleration lanes would be introduced through the project which would facilitate the improvement of two junctions.
He clarified that the major road joined with other roads at approximately 90 degree angles is what constitutes the traffic challenges, adding that the idea behind the tow junctions is to make sure that road users do not go through a lock-down of Alexander Road.
He also revealed that the Turnbull junction would be redesigned for a more seamless flow of vehicles onto Alexander Road, as well as a channelised island introduced to control traffic movement.
The project is set to provide separate inflow and outflow movements, including acceleration and deceleration lanes, to reduce interference with traffic along Alexander and Gerrard roads.
He said the road reservation would be the focus point of the construction activities to minimise disruption,and that major connections to the existing road would be carried out with minimal disruption to traffic.
The commissioner mentioned that the government would collaborate with residents and utility owners to prevent interference with essential services during the process.
“First, we will engage with residents and also with utility owners to ensure that in trying to solve a problem, we are not creating another problem,
“We have a lot of fibre, we have the Water Corporation, we also have electricity. So it is important to do these things responsibly and professionally so that we don’t interrupt people’s lives.” he said.
He added that traffic patterns would be considered during the construction, with minimized work or suspension at intense period, complemented with a maximization during off-peak hours.
The contractor handling the project, Engineer Folorunsho Owolabi of Concept Limited, told stakeholders that measures would be put in place to maintain traffic flow throughout the construction period while targeting three months for the completion of the project.
Furthermore, the Chairman of the Banana Island Residents Association, Mr Bidemi Sonoiki, said plans regarding the project had been ongoing for about a year due to the area’s constant traffic congestion.
He commended the state government for continuing with the project despite the budget and was hopeful for the improvement of movement for residents and other road users.