By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Lagos State Government says it will commence a traffic infrastructure project to improve vehicular movement around Turnbull and Parkview intersections, Ikoyi.
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ engagement on the Junction Improvement Project on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, on Thursday in Lagos.
Osiyemi said the government had explored various options over the years to address traffic challenges in the area, in spite of resistance from some property owners.
He said some earlier proposals involved diverting traffic through alternative routes but were rejected following concerns raised by residents and property owners.
According to him, the government has now adopted practical and actionable solutions that will benefit residents, motorists and other stakeholders in the area.
“The project has been under discussion for about eight or nine months, and government has worked with relevant stakeholders to secure funding.
“The state has provided its counterpart funding and is now preparing to commence the contract, while investors will also participate in the project,” he said.
The commissioner said the project was expected to be completed within six months, adding that the work could be completed before the stipulated period.
Osiyemi stressed the need for collaboration with investors and other stakeholders to ensure construction activities did not disrupt existing services.
He said the government would prioritise traffic management throughout the construction period to minimise inconvenience to residents and motorists.
The commissioner also called for proper communication with residents before and during the project, stressing that effective information dissemination was critical to its success.
“It is very wrong to start a project without proper communication being disseminated,” Osiyemi said.
He urged residents to cooperate with the government and support enforcement efforts to ensure the sustainability of the project after completion.
Osiyemi said the government would ensure that construction activities did not disrupt essential services, including electricity and water supply.
He identified communication, traffic management and uninterrupted service delivery as key priorities for successful implementation of the project.
Mrs Ronke Shokefun, Chairman, Parkview Residents Association, expressed excitement over the planned project, saying it would address concerns over the 90-degree entrance and exit turn causing bottlenecks.
She said residents were briefed ahead of the stakeholders’ meeting, adding that the outcome would be communicated to members for their information and necessary cooperation.
Shokefun said concerns over the possibility of both projects running concurrently had been addressed at the meeting, describing the development as a step in the right direction.
The Chairman, Banana Island Association, Mr Abidemi Shonaiki, said the project started about a year ago, adding that residents had observed persistent traffic around Turnbull and Parkview roads.
Shonaiki commended the Lagos State Government for supporting the wellbeing of Ikoyi residents and expressed gratitude for including the project in the state budget.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some residents appealed to the state government to schedule construction activities at night.
They said the measure would minimise disruption to residents’ daily activities and movement within the affected areas.
