Lagos State government in partnering with Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank and other stakeholders are working out possible solutions to the perennial gridlocks on the Victoria Island-Lekki corridor.
Working the stakeholders as consultant is Planet Project Limited, who, on Wednesday briefed the government and the private partners on measures needed to be taken.
Major points of traffic challenges identified by the consultant around Victoria Island-Lekki axis, which may involved building one new road and total overhaul of the current traffic circulation, include Muri-Okunola Roundabout, Sanddfilled Junction, Akinbolade Street, connecting Oniru, Ligali Ayorinde-Akinbolade Junction among other trouble spots.
Abiodun Otunla, managing director of Planet Project, who briefed the stakeholders during a brainstorming session held at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, at Marako, said some of the solutions might be to removed identified roundabouts, as they constute a major traffic impediment.
In addition to fixing most of the roads which are in a state of disrepair, the government, he said, might also need to consider concrete in the rehabilitation of the roads, as against the use of asphalt, which can’t withstand water, even as he harped on the need to fix collapsed drainages.
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who believed the implementation of the proposed solutions by the consultant could go a long way, gave the commitment of his administration to solving the Lagos traffic challenges in line with his electioneering promise.
“The whole idea is to improve the time that people spend in traffic in order to enhance business and social life.”
Sanwo-Olu, however, urged the consultants to consider inputs from other stakeholders and broaden their scope in order to address the challenges once and for all when the proposed solutions are implemented.
Joshua Bassey
