Lagos Shuts Airport Bridge Indefinitely After Tanker Explosion
By Taiye Lawal
The Lagos State Government, Sunday, announced the closure of the Airport Bridge at Toyota Bus Stop on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway indefinitely.
This followed the inferno that occurred last Thursday on the highway as a result of an explosion from a tanker after a collision with another truck, with the structure of the Airport Bridge significantly affected.
“The bridge, therefore, has to be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic movement to enable the state government conduct structural tests on the bridge,” the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, said yesterday.
He further announced alternative routes for use by motorists pending the outcome of the tests and the reopening of the bridge to traffic.
“Motorists from Mile 2 to Cele on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway approaching Iyana-Isolo through Daleko Bridge will need to make use of Aiye and Osolo Way to Asa Afariogun through 7&8 to access International Airport Road.
“Motorists from Toyota will make use of the service lanes by Armed Forces Resettlement Centre to BOC Gases on old NAFDAC headquarters, through a U-turn at Cappa on Agege Motor Road to Bolade/Oyetayo Street (Oshodi-Isolo Local Govt Secretariat) through Bolade on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway via Charity in order to reach International Airport Road.
“Motorists from Bus Terminal 2 Transport Interchange, inwards Charity on Apapa -Oshodi Expressway, can connect International Airport Road from Toyota Bus Stop through Anthony Oke to Ikorodu Road on the service lanes and return via Anthony Oke inwards Oshodi Oke to Charity and connect International Airport Road,” Oladeinde said.
The commissioner said in the light of this development, the Lagos State Traffic Management Officials (LASTMA) will be deployed to the corridors to control and manage traffic flow along the axes during the course of the diversions.
“The government is assuring the motoring public that the Airport Bridge shall be opened for use as soon as the tests or requisite intervention makes it safe and secure to do so. The government, through this statement, appeals to all road users along these corridors to drive safely and patiently by following the traffic advice while assuring them that any inconvenience this may cause is temporary. ”
This development came after the House of Representatives member representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency II, Ganiyu Johnson, visited the scene of the incident on Friday, in company of his legislative aides and called for integrity test to be carried out.
“As a structural engineer, I can confirm to you that the structure at the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway that links Airport Road has been badly affected,” Johnson, a former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Lagos State, said after inspecting the scene of the incident.
He said it was imperative to put the bridge connecting the nation’s seaport to the busiest airport in Africa on partial closure, considering the volume of traffic recorded daily till the integrity result would be out. He called on the Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, to act fast.
“We thank God that no life was lost in the incident, but the aftermath of it may be inimical should we fail to act fast as the issue demands our serious and urgent attention,” he advised.
The lawmaker further called on the appropriate agency to ensure that “all heavy duty trucks plying roads undergo integrity test for a safer highway and any truck that fails the test should be put off the road.
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