What to expect from remodeling of Allen-Awolowo Way Roundabout

Improved traffic flow and reduction in travel time are in the offing for Lagos motorists and commuters as construction works begin at the Allen-Awolowo Way roundabout, in Ikeja.

The massive roundabout which helps motorists and commuters to connect key areas like the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa; Aromire Avenue, Allen and Ikeja Under-bridge linking the popular Computer Village, was in 2019 identified as a major cause gridlock on the Awolowo Way, and therefore, recommended for remodeling.

The statues of Obafemi Awolowo, first premier of Western Region of Nigeria, and Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a Nigerian afro-beat legend (both late), erected at the roundabout have been taken down to allow work commence on the site. The headless ‘Liberation’ statue of Fela, and ‘Victory’ statue of Awolowo, according to officials would be relocated elsewhere.

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The Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration last year identified 60 areas across the state where it hoped modify to allow for better traffic flow and reduce travel time.

The work is starting with four out of the 60 identified traffic prone areas. The first four include Allen, Maryland, Ikotun and 2nd Lekki roundabout.

The remodeling entails removal of the affected roundabouts and separate streams of traffic through Traffic Signal Lights (TSL). The work will synchronise all TSLs through intelligent traffic systems which will recognise the densities of traffic streams and give priorities accordingly.

Frederic Oladeinde, the commissioner for transportation, said the idea is to reduce gridlock and increase the capacity of the roundabouts to accommodate increasing vehicular traffic.

“We have since the early days of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, committed ourselves to ensuring reduction in traffic congestion by resolving key gridlock points.

“We started off through discovery of 60 gridlock junctions and areas across the state. Seven pilot schemes were unlocked, we progressed in the traffic management measures to 27 locations and now we are working on four major junctions by removing the roundabouts presently causing chaos during turning-movements.

“The four identified roundabouts are Ikotun, 2nd oundabout on Lekki-Epe Expressway, Allen Avenue roundabout and Maryland,” said Oladeinde.

According to him, apart from the pedestrian activities and chaos during turning at the junctions, the roundabouts have insufficient capacities to cater for the traffic volume during peak hours.

The four roundabouts, according to the official, are billed to be delivered within four months.