A newly designed access roadway linking four local councils in Lagos State has opened to vehicular traffic, solving a major traffic problem and ending decades-long wait for the beneficiary communities.
Crowd of jubilant residents of Kosofe Local Government Area joined Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, at the ceremony where Ogudu-Alapere Link Road and a bridge were officially commissioned.
The dual carriage infrastructure cuts through Ogudu into Alapere in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and drops on Lagos-Ibadan Highway. At its Ogudu end, the link road leads motorists to connect Ikorodu Road.
The Ogudu-Alapere Link Road, designed with interlocked concrete blocks, was part of 12 other capital projects commissioned by the Governor in Lagos East Senatorial District, as part of pre-inauguration activities lined up to usher in Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the delivery of the road project testified to his administration’s prioritisation of purposeful governance.
Stressing his Government deployed a two-pronged approach towards addressing gridlocks being experienced in the area by prioritising rehabilitation of strategic roads and link bridges, as well the development of new roads.
He said: “As a Government, we have worked assiduously to bring respite and succour to road users in the state by putting in place an enduring framework for the delivery of road infrastructure, as well as provision of supporting drainage infrastructure to sustain these roads.
Ogudu Community in Kosofe Local Government Area is a strategic settlement with a fast-growing population with a huge need for infrastructural renewal. This prompted our administration to embark upon the construction of a Reinforced Concrete deck on a pile culvert to address the challenge of flooding”.
Sanwo-Olu added: “The effort has resulted in significant progress, as we are gathered here today to hand over the Ogudu–Alapere Link Road and Bridge, and Prince Adesoji Ajose street in Ogudu. Providing easy connectivity to Ikorodu Road, Third Mainland Bridge and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is one of the benefits recorded by this intervention.
This extraordinary journey of commitment, trust, and partnership for economic growth and development has once again yielded a milestone achievement, as we have not only improved traffic efficiency on this axis, we have also lowered the environmental impact of flooding in Ogudu.”
The Governor reiterated that his administration would continue to work on infrastructure renewal programme to improve the quality of life of the citizens and enhance socio-economic development.
Urging residents of the beneficiary communities to protect the road facilities and ensure the drainage system was maintained and free of refuse.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr Aramide Adeyoye, said prior to the intervention, the existing roads were without drainage facilities and disconnected by an existing wetland, thereby subjecting the communities to perennial flooding with consequent negative impact on transportation.
“The delivery of both the 545m long Ogudu-Alapere Link Road with an average with of 14.6meter and a 22-meter Bridge, as well as the 60m-long Prince Ajose Street, would serve as good alternative roads for motorists, especially the residents of Ogudu GRA Estate Phases I & Il, Ogudu-Ojota and the third axial underpass. This will in turn help in reducing travel time and man-hour loss in traffic gridlock around Ogudu Roundabout,” she said.
Hon. Moyosore Ogunlewe, Kosofe LGA chairman, described the intervention as historic, noting that Governor Sanwo-Olu became the first Governor of the State to open the link route to other communities.
He urged the Governor to accelerate construction work on pending State projects in the Local Government Area.
