Eboselume Olutola, taking on the identity of an average commuter, experienced firsthand the stress various road users have been going through since the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway began. In his reportage, he documents various events witnessed and also conveys the perspectives of fellow commuters.
Various residents and motorists have complained about the current state of delayed traffic flow on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
FrankTalkNow confirms that the major road network connecting Lagos and Ibadan has been experiencing traffic gridlock for about three days.
In order to experience the situation firsthand, uncover the root cause of the quagmire and convey the perspectives of commuters, FTN decided to board a vehicle from Mowe bound for Berger, Lagos.
Typically, the journey from Mowe to Berger takes about twenty-five minutes, in the absence of traffic congestion; however, in the case of a hectic traffic jam, motorists may become stranded for over two hours.
It is important to indicate that our correspondent boarded the bus bound for Berger, Lagos at 6:15 am.
At the commencement of the journey, the road seemed clear and free. Additionally, the fare remained at N700. This occurrence made passengers feel that the road must have been free, as the cost of transportation spikes during periods of traffic congestion or other unpredictable events in Lagos and Ogun states, respectively.
However, as the journey progressed, road users began to experience a holdup, particularly at the Punch Place. This holdup eventually resulted in a standstill at OPIC, with very little movement being made every six minutes.
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The journey, which ordinarily would have taken just twenty-five minutes, spiraled into a one-hour-and-twenty-minute drive. FTN confirms that the traffic gridlock is a result of the ongoing rehabilitation of one of the sections on the long bridge after Matrix filling station.
Commuters cry out
“I got to work very late on Monday. It almost rendered my day useless,” said Dare, an admin officer who works in Ikeja.
According to him, he left his house just like always at about 6:30 am. Unknown to him, he would face a traffic gridlock that would eventually cost him some hours of his work time.
He said, “I was heartbroken to discover that I got to the office around 8:40 am on Monday. Immediately I learnt about the surge in transportation fare from about two bus conductors at the bus stop in Mowe, I began to nurse fear. However, I didn’t know it would be that bad. After leaving the house at my usual time at 6:30 am, I was delayed on the road for more than two hours. Although the road eventually became free at Berger, nonetheless, the damage had been done. That particular situation cost me about one hour of my work time. I just thank God I wasn’t queried. It is because of that unfortunate experience that I had to leave the house earlier today. As I speak to you, I haven’t eaten breakfast, and I would have to spend more on food at work.”
Another respondent, a trader, said she is grateful to her husband for informing her about the situation of things on the road. Based on her narrative, her husband had experienced the harsh reality of the situation yesterday, and for this reason, could inform her, thereby helping her prepare.
The trader, who is in her late fifties, went on to advise the government to deploy better methods when fixing roads in order to foster the convenience of road users.
Traffic regulations and concerns for safety
During the commute, FrankTalkNow also observed that several drivers, in a bid to beat traffic, went on to use the infamous ‘one-way’ system on the other side of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Even though it saved the driver and commuters some time, concerns were raised about the safety of road users and the risk of road accidents.
In addition, it is noteworthy to mention that FrankTalkNow equally observed the absence of traffic officers at the scene. This situation, many believe, is aggravating the gridlock.
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