The Lagos State Government has announced the closure of some roads in Agege. The announcement was made in a post on the state’s facebook page The partial closure would take effect from Thursday January 4th 2017, while the complete closure of the roads will come at a later date. The government has also announced alternative routes to be used pending when the construction will be over.
Why is the state doing this ?
The measure according to the Olujimi Hotonu, Permanent secretary ministry of works and infrastructure, was to enable the contractor take full advantage of the weather and space to proceed with a major aspect of the flyover construction that falls within the Pen Cinema roundabout and railway crossing at Old Abeokuta Road junction.
What does the closure entail ?
The routes for the diversion for the flyover are as follow; Vehicles coming from Ogba/Oba Ogunji except Articulated vehicles are expected to come in through Ijaiye Low Cost Housing Estate to link Iju Road, while Articulated Vehicles and other vehicles plying this axis have the option of either turning right towards Iju Road at the Pen Cinema intersection or left towards Moshalashi Alhaja.
“Similarly, vehicles coming from Iju Road should go towards Moshalashi Alhaja or turn towards Oba Ogunji/ Ogba as the turning towards the right to the Railway crossing will remain closed.
There would be a complete closure of the road for vehicles coming from Moshalashi Alhaja towards the Railway crossing, while vehicles coming from Moshalashi Alhaja axis would be expected to either move towards Iju Road or turn right towards Oba Ogunji/Ogba Road.
“All vehicles coming from Old Abeokuta Motor Road are enjoined to go straight towards Agege Motor Road or turn right towards Afa Nla/Oke Koto roads, while vehicles coming from Agege Motor Road are enjoined to go straight towards Old Abeokuta Motor Road or turn into Afa Nla/Oke Koto roads. No vehicle from these axes will be allowed to pass through the Pen Cinema intersection,
Implications of the move
While the state government has given assurances that it will make alternative traffic arrangements, the closure is bound to create traffic congestion on the Ogba axis.
Businesses located around the Pen cinema axis, would also witness a decline in patronage.
The Pen cinema flyover is one of several that has been constructed by the Lagos State government. The government had in May last year commissioned two flyovers christened Jubilee bridges at Ajah and Abulegba to ease traffic.
