Motorists Avoiding Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Gridlock Trapped In Swampy Bypass
Several motorists and commuters on Friday lamented as their vehicles got trapped in a swampy bypass beside the Long Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at Kara-Isheri in the Obafemi Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The bypass was created to avoid the energy-sapping traffic on the bridge following the ongoing road construction.
A reporter who witnessed the scene observed that commercial buses and a few private cars were trapped in the muddy route.
The situation worsened after the bypass became impassable for motorists and commuters.
It was further observed how some young men collected N500 each from motorists whose vehicles got trapped in the marshy road before they helped push the vehicles out.
One of the men who only gave his name as Tajudeen explained that their aim was to ensure free flow of vehicular movement.
Tajudeen said, “If not because of the traffic on the expressway, we won’t be here. Our aim is to make sure drivers pass here without blocking others. The N500 we are collecting from each of the drivers is to help them push their vehicles out of the way when they develop faults.”
A motorist, Adebisi James, complained about the losses he incurred due to the road construction.
James stated, “This road construction is a waste of time for us (drivers). I only convey passengers from Mowe to Berger but the money I lose every day is more than the profit I make. We struggle before we make N5, 000 in a day. I think with the slow pace of work, the government is just wasting our time which we should have used to make money to feed our families.’’
Another driver identified only as Anthony said that the construction worsened vehicular situation on the expressway.
Anthony said, “The construction company is not strategic enough with the way it’s handling the project. Everybody is affected and there is nothing we can do about it. The bypass is even creating more problems. We cannot say because people create a bypass they have violated traffic law. Last week, I spent six hours on this road. It is not easy but we pray they finish the construction on time.’’
