Residents and commuters along the Agric-Isawo axis of Ikorodu have expressed relief following the opening of the inbound section of the AFA Bridge to traffic.
Gatekeepers News reports that for years, road users in the area endured flooding, difficult bridge crossings and prolonged journeys due to the poor condition of the route.
The opening of the bridge section is expected to ease movement in the area, although construction work continues on the outbound carriageway.
A commuter, Emmanuel Dickson, described the development as a dream come true, thanking the Lagos State Government and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the intervention.
“I don’t know how to start, but I just want to thank the Lagos State Government and Governor Sanwo-Olu for this great job. As a resident of this area, I didn’t believe that I would personally drive and cross this road today.
“It is like a dream come true because we have suffered a lot on this road. But today, I drove past it. Kudos to the Lagos State Government,” he said.
The opening followed an inspection of ongoing road and bridge projects by Olufemi Daramola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, alongside Olutokunbo Oyenuga, Permanent Secretary, Office of Infrastructure, and other technical directors.
Speaking at the Asolo Bridge section of the Agric-Isawo-Konu-Arepo Road reconstruction and rehabilitation project, Daramola said significant progress had been made on the bridge works.
“There is good progress on the bridge works. I am happy to tell you that the inbound section of AFA Bridge on Agric-Isawo Road has been opened to traffic. Commuters can now safely use this section of the bridge.
“It is bye-bye to driving through the floodplain. Construction, however, continues on the outbound section,” he said.
Oyenuga, however, urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution, stressing that the area remained a construction zone.
He advised motorists to obey speed limits and traffic instructions and warned against unauthorised bus stops and passenger loading around the bridge.
Pedestrians were also advised to use designated walkways and stay away from active construction areas.
The Chairman of Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area, Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, commended the state government for addressing the challenges faced by residents and road users.
He pledged the council’s support for the proper management and maintenance of the infrastructure.
The Baale of Ajagunro-Owutu, Chief S.O. Orepitan Iwofun, said residents of the Isawo axis had endured considerable hardship because of the poor condition of the road.
He described the bridge opening as a welcome relief and pledged the community’s cooperation in complying with government directives.
Similarly, Abiodun Dare Sunday, General Secretary of the Community Development Committee, Ikorodu West LCDA/Road Committee, said the development marked the end of years of waiting and hardship.
“After years of patience, endurance and inconvenience, relief is finally here. No more wallowing through floodwater. No more climbing the staircase to get to the bridge deck,” he said.
The inspection team also visited the ongoing rehabilitation of Itowolo Bridge and the reconstruction of Aruna U-Turn in Ikorodu Local Government Area.
The Baale of Itowolo, Chief Sikiru Kolawole Aregbeshola, expressed appreciation to the government for intervening in what he described as a longstanding community concern.
“We have repeatedly appealed for government intervention, and we are grateful that our concerns have finally been heard,” he said, adding that the project would improve mobility and make transportation safer and easier for residents.
At Mile 12 in Kosofe Local Council, the team inspected the Maidan-Patele Link Bridge and Approach Roads project, which is expected to upgrade the existing pedestrian bridge to accommodate both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
A resident, Dennis Adeola, said the pedestrian bridge had been unusable for almost four years, forcing residents to depend on canoes, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
He said the situation had been especially difficult for elderly residents and had resulted in long queues and delays.
“We sincerely appreciate the Lagos State Government for urgently addressing the bridge problem and restoring safe and easy access for everyone in our community,” Adeola said.
Daramola said the projects were part of the state government’s broader investment in road and bridge infrastructure across Lagos.
“Today is just part of our routine inspection. You can recall that Mr Governor has commissioned and rehabilitated hundreds of roads across the state. Today has allowed us to go around and look at some of our ongoing road and bridge projects,” he said.
He assured residents that the projects would be completed as scheduled and urged road users to obey traffic signs and keep away from construction zones.
Daramola also appealed to residents to protect the infrastructure, noting that the projects were funded with taxpayers’ money.
He said the government would continue working with relevant agencies to strengthen enforcement and sensitise residents on the importance of protecting public infrastructure.
