Francesca Odimgbe
The Lagos State Government has reopened the ever-busy pedestrian bridge at Alapere/Estate Bus Stop on the Third Axial Road after completion work on the damaged bridge by the contractor, just as the government said that access was created to pedestrians for safety reasons.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Engineer Olufemi Daramola who made this known today, said the Sanwo-Olu administration places a high premium on safety of lives and, therefore, Mr. Governor directed immediate reopening of the bridge for Public Use.
After an inspection of the completed bridge by a team comprising Lagos State Government Officials from the Office of Infrastructure and the Contractors was carried to determine its fitness for public use, the Special Adviser said Mr. Governor directed that the infrastructure should immediately be made accessible to the public, prior to official handover and commissioning, to reduce the risk of accidents on pedestrians who cross the expressway.
While urging pedestrians and commuters to see the gesture of the Governor as responsive and timely, Engineer Daramola said, “In the interim, we have opened the Bridge for pedestrian use considering safety implications while we await the formal hand over by Mr. Governor.
“This is commendable as the administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is a responsive one and would leave no stone unturned at ensuring the safety of all in the State,” he added.
Recall that the damage to the bridge, which was constructed eleven years ago, was caused by the impact of a container-laden truck that manoeuvred under the bridge bearing a load that was far beyond the headroom of the bridge.
Also commenting on the reopened bridge, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso said, aside from showing the responsiveness of Mr. Governor, the gesture is a display of Lagos State Government’s commitment to providing modern and sturdy infrastructure that will facilitate easy movement of people, goods and materials.