Delay in completing pedestrian bridges raises accident toll, worries residents
By Damilola Kushimo
Residents and road users have raised alarm over the incessant accidents that frequently occur along Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Road due to the delay in the completion of the three pedestrian bridges on the highway.
The bridges built at Oshodi-Oke, 7 and 8 and NACHO/Toll Gate bus stops are parts of the total reconstruction of the road from the airport to Apakun by the Lagos State government.
Road users have been involved in motor accidents crossing the highway as the bridges are not yet accessible.
The site engineer, Kingsley Ikwuje, handling the project had, in July last year, assured that the bridges would be taken over and completed by another contractor by October.
The Member, Federal House of Representatives representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II, Hon. Engineer Ganiyu Johnson, had also promised last year to facilitate the immediate completion as reported by ECHONEWS.
However, the bridges were still uncompleted last week to complement the smoothly paved 10-lane road.
Some of the commuters who complained to ECHONEWS, said pedestrians have to exercise extra caution when crossing the 10-lane highway, noting that LASTMA, NURTW and Police officers at Oshodi-Oke bus stop sometimes have to stop traffic for the elderly and underaged to cross to avoid accident.
They noted that the completion of the bridges will bring about great relief to pedestrians and other road users and prevent accident in the areas.
“We’ve lost count of accidents that have happened at this bus stop since the bridge had been under reconstruction. Accidents happen here frequently, virtually every week. The recent one was prevented because the driver was very careful.”
They therefore appealed to the government to complete the project for the advantage of pedestrians and prevent accidents on the highway.
One of the members of the National Union of Road Transports Workers (NURTW) attached to Oshodi-Oke, Nurudeen Salami, said the rate of accidents at Oshodi-Oke bus stop reduced because of the police, Lastma and union officers who often control traffic at the bus stop.
