Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commissioned the Ikeja Overpass Bridge situated in the Anifowoshe Area of Ikeja, the state capital.
The commissioning of the Ikeja Overpass Bridge has generated excitement from road users who would now enjoy seamless traffic flow within the axis.
The Ikeja Overpass Bridge is the fourth to be commissioned by the Lagos state government within the last two months.
The Governor of Kwara state and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRasak, joined Sanwo-Olu in unveiling the project on Tuesday, December 19.
The Ikeja Overhead Bridge is one of the five overpass bridges ceded to the Lagos State Government for construction on the Red Line corridor where the Nigeria Railway Corporation and the Red Line will share tracks.
The Bridge, which is T-shaped with a length of 620 meters, according to Governor Sanwo-Olu will significantly reduce traffic congestion on the Obafemi Awolowo Way and the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and Old Lagos-Abeokuta Motorway.
Ikeja Flyover – the largest overpass component of the Red Line project – was inaugurated by chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on the invitation of his Lagos counterpart.
The project, undertaken by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), is one of the T-shape overpasses planned along 10 level crossings along the rail alignment to eliminate pedestrian and vehicular interference on the tracks. The flyovers significantly reduce the risk of accidents and collisions between trains and vehicles.
The Ikeja overpass also resolved vehicular congestion and delays, hindering free movement in the vicinity.
The Red Line project, which fully began during Sanwo-Olu’s first term, is expected to move more than 500,000 passengers daily when it becomes operational. It stretches from Agbado to Oyingbo, with eight stations at Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba and terminates at Oyingbo.
In his address, Mr. Sanwo-Olu noted that the flyover bridge will help transform the state and also save time on the road, amongst others.
He reiterated commitment to work with private initiatives to provide transport system that’s safe, seamless and secured for Lagosians.
Sanwo-Olu appealed to commuters, motorists against turning the bridge to a bus station.
Governor AbdulRasak in his remarks, commended the efforts of the Lagos State Government, noting that the road project is focused on national development.
In his own remarks, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi urged commuters, motorists to adhere to traffic rules and regulations
Osiyemi warned that hawking and selling; use of bikes on the bridge remains prohibited.
One of the commercial bus driver Ismaila Lukman in a chat with Lagos Panorama expressed his excitement about the newly commissioned Overpass Bridge “my journey toll and fro Egbeda will be much easier now with this bridge, it will reduce traffic from Ikeja connecting the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway” an obviously happy transporter affirmed.
The Executive Chairman Ikeja Local Government, Hon Mojeed Balogun in his appreciation remark also seek the Lagos State Government support in resolving the flood issue in the host community, Anifowoshe area of Ikeja.
LAMATA Managing Director, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, explained that the Ikeja Overpass, which has a length of 620 metres, was designed to maximise the efficiency of Red Line and NRC train schedules by minimising delays associated with level crossings.
She disclosed that Mushin Overpass, which is the last of the five flyovers being constructed by Lagos State Government along the Red Line alignment, has reached the completion stage.
“Mushin Flyover will be commissioned before next February,” Akinajo said.
