To make it easier for vacationers returning to their destinations after the holiday season, the Federal Government has ordered a temporary suspension of the current construction work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Remember that after departing in December 2022, the construction company Julius Berger returned to the site on Tuesday to resume building work between the well-known Long Bridge and Kara bus stop on the Lagos-bound highway.
Due to the contractors’ return, the axis was gridlocked on Thursday, making commuters sigh.
Umar Bakare, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, oversaw the removal of the crash barriers on the Kara Section of the highway on Friday after the work was halted.
After reopening Section One of the highway to traffic, Bakare told a reporter that the move was made to offer people returning from the end-of-year holiday the chance to have a better driving experience.
Bakare said the contractors would resume on Monday, Jan. 9, and complete work between Kara and Long Bridge within 20 days of resumption. He added that the contractors were able to carry out quick repairs until the early hours of Friday before removing the crash barriers in anticipation of a significant amount of people returning to their homes over the weekend.
”Temporary repairs were done on some sections in December, and the contractors were able to further upgrade work on their short return in January. We understand and realise that there are still a lot of people who are still returning from their various journeys.
”To this extent, we have asked the contractor, after completing that section (Kara), to stop work and remove the barriers till the coming week for the completion of the other section between Long Bridge and Kara to the final layer.”
The Controller asked for road users’ patience and lane discipline around construction zones, noting the government’s worries for their welfare, while assuring Nigerians that the government will make public statements and always sensitize the public on the progress of work.
