Despite heavy rainfall in the past few weeks, the Lagos State Government has continued to make progress on its infrastructure projects designed to improve the road network and ease traffic problems across the State.
During a fact-finding visit to five strategic projects, the Special Adviser, Office of Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso took pressmen on a tour of ongoing projects including Abiola-Onijemo link bridge and the five-kilometre Ikeja Urban Regeneration Project covering Oduduwa Way, Odudunmu, Sobo Arobiodu and Sasegbon Streets.
The team also visited the Opebi Mende-link Bridge and adjoining roads, Arowojobe Link Bridge in Maryland, Agidi Demurin and Church Street Network and Saint Finbarrs Road (UNILAG to Abule Okuta-Soluyi) Deeper Life Church, both in Kosofe Local Government.
On completion, the Opebi link bridge will ease traffic gridlock and make the travel experience seamless for residents of Ikeja, Maryland and others who travel to Lagos Island and vice-versa on a daily basis.
Omotoso said the intention of the government was to roll out infrastructure that would cut the time spent by motorists to and from the airport by creating a shorter route to link Ikorodu Road and the axial roads.
The Commissioner said, “We have been going around since morning and what we have seen is the testimony to the fact that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is not resting on his oars. There are so many things that have been completed and so many in the pipeline alike.
“We saw that despite the rains, contractors were at work, it shows that we’re forging ahead despite the weather”.
Also speaking, Engineer Daramola, Special Adviser, said Mr. Governor directed that despite the weather that slowed down the construction work, contractors must work assiduously to ensure the completion of all projects on schedule.
“This tour is part of our effort to ensure that all our contractors are up and doing. Most of the projects have very commendable progress and be as it may, the major challenge in time is the issue of the rain. The issue of the weather is very critical, however, I assure you that public works are up and running”, he said.
The contractors on each of the sites visited thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu and Special Adviser for providing the support and resources required to maintain the pace and quality of work on the projects.
Expressing satisfaction with the conduct of youths attached to Julius Berger to acquire practical knowledge on bridge building, the Project Manager, Dymtry Denysenko, noted that the students were being trained to use new trends in technology for the development of iconic structures.
One of the students who spoke during the tour of projects, Apologun Onetere, a 400-level student of Babcock University, said that the experience has been thrilling.
“I have learnt a lot about piling which is the foundation of building a bridge. It’s so refreshing to see things in practice. I appreciate this experience. These iconic projects demonstrate the administration’s commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure, driving economic growth, and transforming the State into a hub of innovation and progress”, she said.
Arowojobe Link Bridge and Road are 77% completed, St. Finbarrs Road is 70%, Abiola-Onijemo Link Road with Bridge is 80%, Ikeja GRA regeneration project is 89% per cent completed while Opebi-Mende Link Bridge and adjoining roads are 85% per cent completed.