The Lagos State Government has finally reduced the perennial traffic on Third Mainland Bridge during peak hours with the completion of the multiple lay-bys at Iyana Oworo Bus Stop.
With the completion of the lay-bys, travel time from Lagos Island to Mainland on the bridge has significantly reduced from about four hours to between 16 and 20 minutes during peak periods.
Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Commissioner for Transportation
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola led journalists on an assessment tour of the area to see the impact of the lay-bys on the traffic gridlock on the bridge.
Mobereola described the lay-bys as parts of the measures put in place by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration to unlock the traffic gridlock on Third Mainland Bridge and other parts of Lagos.
The commissioner said the Iyana-Oworonsoki area had been a major traffic trajectory within Lagos that had significant negative traffic culture since there were inadequate lay-bys provided for the multiple vehicles plying the area, adding that the other points were Alapere and Berger as well as the intersection at Ilubirin
“The gridlock was caused by the vehicles who drop passengers on the road. We have emergency lay-by, lay-by for cars, staff bus, LASTMA Park as well as Emergency Park. The problem with transportation in Lagos is the traffic at the junctions and we are assessing it in a holistic manner. By the time we are done with Oworonshoki, we will move to the other side of Oworonshoki to address the traffic challenges for those moving towards Island.
“This is because in the morning as early as 5.30 a.m., traffic begins to build up even at Gbagada axis, so we are creating lay-bys on that axis. The only way we can tackle these problems is to do it in holistic manners,” he said.
The commissioner said with the construction of the lay-bys, the travel time on the Third Mainland Bridge from Obalende has been reduced to 15 minutes.
Director, Transportation Engineering, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Bolaji Bada, said the lay-by was designed to accommodate 36 cars, 18 coastal buses and 55 commercial buses at a time.
“The project content include: parallel alternative road, Iyana Oworo lay-by, Berger lay-by, Lagbus lay-by and panel wall. We are also creating another road at Olopomeji,” he added.
Motorists and commuters who spoke on their driving experience on the bridge commended the state government for coming up with the strategy, which had reduce their travel time on the bridge.
According to Adediji Pius, a commuter, he left Lagos Island about 5.58pm and got to Oworonshoki around 6.20pm unlike in the past when he would spend over two hours on the bridge.
