Residents, Commuters Cry Out To Sanwo-Olu Over Near Collapse Ikotun Market Bridge
- By Metropolix ~
- September 27, 2023 --
- 0 Comment
– Section of the collapsed bridge
By Adeola Idris
Section of Ikotun Market bridge linking Egbe and its environs in Alimosho Local Council of Lagos State the near collapse.
The bridge collapsed during heavy rains last month. The downpour on September 16 destroyed a large portion of the support structure, creating a huge gully that dovetailed into the canal.
Consequently, motorists and other road users are apprehensive of the imminent total collapse of the bridge as they ply one side of the road.
When visited the scene, a large portion of sand under the bridge gave way, creating a wide curve that is a disaster waiting to happen.
It was learnt that authorities in the area had adopted palliative measures to ensure the bridge holds out for a while until the state government reinforces and repairs it.
Initially, police in the area banned heavy duty trucks from using the bridge until it is fixed.
But realising the imminent danger posed by the collapse, authorities have sealed off the affected section, and diverted traffic to the other lane pending repair.
A motorist, Mr. Allen Adebayo said both the state and local council officials have visited the bridge, but did not specify when it would be repaired.
Adebayo lamented that such a bridge, which links Ikotun to Isolo, Oshodi and other parts of Lagos, should not be allowed to collapse completely before it is repaired.
According to him, the collapsed section is already affecting free flow of traffic in the area.
He called on the government to urgently take steps to repair the bridge and help ease gridlock.
A trader close to the bridge, Mrs. Kate Olawale, expressed worries that the bridge may collapse at any time.
According to her, she witnessed the gradual collapse of parts of the bridge. She expressed fear that total collapse is imminent, if nothing is done urgently.
She said some motorists have started following alternative routes as they fear the bridge may collapse at any time.
Olawale, therefore, urged the government to immediately repair the bridge to avert the pending disaster.
Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) has lamented the disruption of its scheduled roads maintenance and rehabilitation activities by the continuous heavy down pour being experienced in most parts of the state. General Manager of the Corporation, Lateef Somide, disclosed this while speaking on the on-going efforts of his agency to make Lagos roads motorable.
He said the corporation has been significantly handicapped by the rainfall pattern being experienced in Lagos this year, owing to the fact that road maintenance and rehabilitation operation can only be carried out efficiently under clement weather.
According to him, though the current situation was a manifestation of global warming, which has caused varied degrees of devastation to countries across the world, its impact on Lagos roads has been particularly significant due to the high water table nature of the topography in most part of the state.
This, according to him, makes the usage of hot asphalt, which is the major material for road pavement not suitable in wet weather.
He said: “What we have noticed in the past couple of months was that while waiting for the ground to dry after a particular rainfall to address damaged sections of the road, another heavy downpour occurs within a space of two to three days.
“Despite that we carefully use weather forecasts in planning our operation, there are many instances where rain falls sooner than our men left the sites, thus compromising the integrity of the work done.”
The LSPWC boss said for this reason, the corporation has resolved to use more of interlocking paving stones to fix road defects in the state to avoid using asphalt premix that may not stand the test of time due to weather condition, while adding that inspite of the weather condition, his men had recently carried out maintenance work on sections of roads which include Egbeda-Idimu road, Ikotun-Igando road, Ilupeju road, Isheri-Olowora road, Lateef Jakande road, Lasu- Iba Road and Ado Badore road by Church of Ascension among others.
On some failed sections of roads, such as the Ogunnusi Road by Area G. Police Command, and a section of Ikotun Egbe road by Ikotun Market, the General Manager, said such were examples of many situations where his agency cannot embark on proper maintenance work due to the fact that major drainage repair work is required for the road to last when fixed.
However, residents and commuters have appealed to Lagos State Government to fix the collapsed bridge to avoid imminent danger
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