Lagos – The Lagos State Government said on Thursday that the ongoing repair works on the Ile-Epo axis of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway would be completed by next week.
Mr Ayotunde Sodeinde, General Manager, Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), made the promise while inspecting the project site.
He told newsmen that the repairs had reached 85 per cent completion.
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Sodeinde said that when completed, it would eradicate the gridlock and the hardship faced by Lagosians in the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government had in January promised to complete the 850-metre drain alignment within two weeks and the bad portion of the 1,000-metre road by April.
Sodeinde said that state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, had earlier directed that the project be accelerated.
He said that the drainage channel had been completed and the road would be completed next week.
“We have 13 roads that we are doing in Surulere and another major road – Queens Drive in Ikoyi, which is about three kilometers.
“We had a terrible experience working on this Ile-Epo project but we had to employ the spirit of patience.
“We had to resort to working in the night; even at that, the traders of Ile-Epo Market still off load goods at night and stuff the drains with garbage, but we managed it.
“Our governor believes that every road in Lagos belongs to him; he drove us here to do this road to reduce hardship faced by Lagosians.
“Initially we were only working in the night but the governor gave instructions that we work also during the day to deliver the road before April,’’ he said.
Sodeinde said that the drainage channel would not be covered in order to be able to clear it with ease due to the drain-stuffing habit of the traders.
NAN reports that the reconstruction of the road project began in October 2015.
The drains were expanded from 0.6 metres to 1.4 metres but the project was stalled in December due to six PHCN poles on the right of way.
The corporation however returned to site in January after the poles were relocated. (NAN)