The Lagos-Opebi-Mende (LOM) link bridge, popularly known as the Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge construction, which begins today, may well earn for the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration its rightful place as ‘one of the architects of modern Lagos’, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE
What many Lagosians may not know as the Lagos-Opebi-Mende (LOM) Bridge begins today, is that it has gestated on paper for 20 years. Happily, however, the waiting is over.
The project, which would be delivered next September, will turn Opebi, the seedy but sprawling community, tucked eastwards of Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, and an adjunct to the commercial district of Allen Avenue, into a huge construction site as the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is set to give it befitting urban renewal, as its being done for the five divisions of the state.
Very much like all his predecessors in office, Sanwo-Olu has continued to make the state’s fortune to work for the people, as he embarks on fixing strategic infrastructure, i.e. roads, to reduce traffic congestion/nightmares and making travel time and journeys more enjoyable for citizens/residents.
From junction improvements, which have seen the government carry out massive improvements on 145 junctions across the state, to traffic light signalisation and road expansion, repair and rehabilitation, as well as its efforts to add train mode into the mix, with the Red and Blue rail at advanced stages, the government has left no one in doubt about its determination to positively impact transportation, beyond mere celebratory rhetoric of making it the first pillar of its six-point THEMES agenda.
Speaking with our correspondent over the telephone at the weekend, the Commissioner for Transportation Dr Frederic Oladeinde, said the project is in line with the Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to developing alternative road access for the people of the state, which will reduce travel time and improve accessibility by eliminating congestion.
He said the link bridge when completed would have removed hindrances to free flow of traffic on the axis, adding that the end results will be satisfying for Lagosians.
The commissioner admitted that besides improving traffic flow, the Opebi-(Mende)-Ojota link bridge, which has been tagged the Lagos-Opebi-Mende Link Bridge (LOM), inaugurated by the governor on January 27, 2022, will change the skyline of the state and become iconic addition to the urban renewal initiatives which has been at the core of government’s transportation agenda.
Announcing the take-off of work last Wednesday, Oladeinde said the project is expected to run in two phases. He said traffic diversion plan to suit the two phases had been designed, and urged motorists and other road users to strictly comply in order to ease movement along the axis.
Travel diversion plan
According to the diversion plan, residents coming to Opebi, are advised to use Opebi Link Road to access Tunde Osilaja Street to connect Salvation, inbound Ajanaku Street, and link Opebi Road through Thomas Ajufo to reach their desired destinations. He also revealed that a portion had been created at the Sheraton-Opebi Link Bridge to enable motorists make a U-turn into Opebi Road.
In the alternative, the Commissioner stated that motorists can use Toyin Street via Mobolaji Bank Anthony, to link Opebi/Allen road. Motorists from Mende Road are equally enjoined to use Ojota Interchange and connect Opebi via Ikorodu Road inwards Aderibigbe, as the Maryland underpass will be closed to vehicular movement.
Oladeinde assured that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), will be deployed along the affected axis to give travel advisory.
Sticking to greater Lagos vision
Kicking off the project in January, the leader of the Greater Lagos Initiatives, Governor Sanwo-Olu had said “all the iconic projects going on in the state are signpost of the administration’s greater Lagos vision”.
According to him, the project is historic. It was a traffic solution proposed 20 years ago to ease off perennial traffic gridlocks that stretch daily from Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, link Road into the Opebi corridor. He envisioned that the link bridge would be a solution to the major traffic conflicts on the Ikeja corridor.
Kicking off the project, he said: “This flag-off ceremony demonstrates the priority we accord the well-being of the people of Lagos, as we are witnessing another milestone in the implementation of the Traffic Management and Transportation Pillar of our administration’s THEMES Agenda and the State Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP). Prior to this project, there was no direct road linkage between Opebi, Maryland and Ojota. Available roads linking the areas are limited in connectivity options, thus paving the way for the high traffic volume and congestion within the Ikeja traffic network.
“We recognised the need to create permanent solution to the conflicts by initiating another legacy construction project linking Ojota, Opebi and approach roads to connect Opebi Road from its tail end with Ikorodu Road by Odo Iya Alaro. Upon completion, the carriageway will reduce travel time for Lagos and Ikorodu-bound traffic from Opebi. It will also ease the traffic situation at Opebi-Sheraton Link Road and Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way.”
He added that the “legacy project” will not only provide a new link to commute around Ikeja and its environs, “it will also enhance economic prosperity and life expectancy”.
The governor stressed that Messr Julius Berger was favoured as preferred contractor for the iconic project, given the civil engineering firm’s capacity and track record in construction on swampy terrains.
Sanwo-Olu said in the last three years, the government has committed princely resources into providing critical infrastructure, with the aim of providing alternatives to the people beyond mere mouthing of “dividends of democracy”.
He said: “This is to demonstrate that politics is not about lip service. We have committed substantial resources to the provision of quality roads, waterways, and rail infrastructure, just as we have invested in modernisation of infrastructure inherited from the previous administration.
The governor said his administration has “initiated the construction of a 37 km track rail project which is steadily progressing, in addition to the complete overhaul of the water transportation system so that we can achieve an efficient and safe transport system that suits our megacity status and befits a 21st century economy.”
Providing more technical details, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr Aramide Adeyoye said the 3.89 kilometre road infrastructure will open into Ojota axis in Kosofe Local Government Area, taking traffic from Opebi U-Turn and dropping it at Ikorodu Road via an intersection that will be constructed under Odo Iya Alaro Bridge at Mende.
The road will be supported by 276 metre deck-on-pile bridge and 474 metre mechanically stabilised earth-wall approach sections.
The carriageway, a new connectivity, would create an easy exit for commuters leaving Ikeja-Onigbongbo axis towards Ojota and Maryland.
Adeyoye said the project was initiated to proffer permanent solution to inadequacies of Opebi Link Bridge and the Opebi U-Turn, and to ease pressure on overburdened routes within Ikeja, with the objective to reduce travel time along the corridor.
She described the infrastructure as; “another landmark progress” recorded by the Sanwo-Olu administration towards delivering requisite infrastructure in Lagos, adding that it demonstrated the priority the governor accorded the welfare and well-being of the residents in line with his drive towards delivering a Greater Lagos Vision.
Adeyoye said since the government came on board, it has tackled 65 road projects and dozens of junction improvement works have been completed, while over 50 road infrastructure projects were at various stages of completion across the state.
She added that the state government’s traffic improvement work was being complemented with constant road maintenance, disclosing that over 832 arterial and tertiary roads, covering 252 kilometres, had been rehabilitated through routine palliatives by the Lagos Public Works Corporation.
Adeyoye said Julius Berger carried out extensive studies and engineering investigations along the project alignment two decades ago, which prompted the state government to proceed with the construction.
She said the governor remained determined to ensuring that the project did not end up a “white elephant (abandoned) project”, stressing that necessary funding mechanism had been secured to guarantee the project’s timely completion.
“Aside providing direct link between Opebi and Mende, Maryland and Ojota, this project also has two underpasses and U-Turn that will provide access for Ojota to Ikorodu Road, as well as for Opebi-bound motorists or commuters. There is also provision for another underpass U-Turn for Phase 2 of Opebi Link Bridge Project which would eventually set a precedence for Ojota commuters to link the Third Mainland Road,” Adeyoye said.
The project have elicited worthy commendation from residents, many of who eulogised the governor for bringing development to their doorstep.
Member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon. James Faleke, described the project as “a huge surprise gift” to Ikeja community. He praised Sanwo-Olu for his vision to open up the swampy channel.
Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Oladotun Olakanle, extended residents’ appreciation to the governor for kicking off the project.
He said the project’s unique feature is that it had the least impact on built environment as virtually no structure would be affected throughout, thereby reducing government’s exposure to litigations or compensation bottlenecks.
He said people of the community and indeed Lagosians are already looking forward to the new link bridge which would provide a new travel experience and reduce gridlock around the Ikeja Opebi-Allen axis.
Our correspondent who visited the site of the project on Friday noted that members of the Opebi community were upbeat with excitement at the imminent take-off of the project.
Though the project would take off on a new steam from today, it was gathered that Julius Berger had actually started work sand filling and dredging the swampy swath from the lower Opebi, to Odo Iya Alaro end of the project.
Workers who would not want to be quoted by our correspondent expressed delight that the work would soon begin in earnest.
One of them said because the project is basically based on swamp reclamation, no buildings would affected by the project. The beauty of this, he said, is that the project is not likely to be bogged down by issues of compensation or court litigation.
Like him, many Lagosians could hardly wait to see the government deliver on this project, which may be a precursor to the Fourth Mainland Bridge project, a major contract unveiling of which the government had irrevocably committed to achieve by year end.