The Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led Government of Lagos State is indeed matching words with delightfully fast-paced actions. A couple of weeks back, commuters and Lagosians in general heaved a huge sigh of relief when the newly contructed layby at the Oworonshoki end of Third Mainland Bridge was commissioned and opened for public use.

Swiftly, the Governor led his crew to the other side of Oworonshoki for an on-the-spot assessment and subsequently approved the immediate construction of not just a layby but also parallel roads to further ease the perennial traffic gridlock on that axis.

Similarly too, the Governnor approved the construction of additional traffic management infrastructures comprising a parallel road and layby at Alapere Junction.

As at date, the construction job at Oworonshoki (inbound third mainland bridge) is almost done while the road infrastructure at Alapere is beginning to take shape.

Why Laybys and Parallel Roads?

The Lagos State Ministry for Transportation (MOT) not too long ago had embarked on the construction of multiple lay-bys (diversion from main road to a more convenient space for commuters, either to load or offload passengers) across the State and at major traffic trajectory within the city noted for gridlock.

Explaining the rationale for the construction of the lay-bys, especially, the Oworonshoki-Alapere-Old Toll gate axis, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, stated that from the ministry’s assessment, Iyana Oworo lay-by were inadequate and in deplorable state, thereby causing traffic hold-up.

He stated that the acquisition of Lagos Mainland office of Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing at Oworonshoki effectively addressed the usual traffic logjam, adding that this initiative is now what is being replicated in other areas of the state like Car Wash and Alapere.

In a news report some six years ago, the Lagos State government said over two billion man-hour were being lost monthly in traffic gridlocks in the megacity.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Dayo Mobereola, who, in 2012 was the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authourity’s (LAMATA) Managing Director, said commuters in Lagos spend an average 40 per cent of their income on transportation.

According to the 2010 news report, Lagos government said much could have been achieved and the economy improved if gridlocks were addressed and travel time on the roads reduced.

Mobereola described the lay-bys as part of the holistic measures Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led-administration has taken to unlock the gridlock on the bridge.

He said the laybys are designed to accommodate a minimum of 36 cars; 18 Coster buses/LAGBUS/BRT and 55 commercial buses.

From the volume study of vehicles entering Oworonsoki layby, he said, motorists would be able to make Oworonsoki from Adeniji Adele on Lagos Island in less than 20 minutes, and from Law School and Milverton Road, in Ikoyi in 45 minutes. Motorists from Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island can make Oworonsoki in one hour and from Ajose Adeogun in two hours.

Besides the improvement in travel time, the laybys also offered an improved linkage to the jetty, improving on the environment’s aesthetics.

See pictures of the traffic infrastructures after the cut:

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