Deborah Akinyosoye
The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to uninterrupted traffic flow and public safety as rehabilitation work begins on the 20-kilometre Lekki–Epe Expressway, a project scheduled to last 64 days.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, gave the assurance yesterday, saying comprehensive and coordinated traffic management plans had been put in place to minimise inconvenience to motorists and other road users during the construction period.
Addressing officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Giwa clarified that the rehabilitation would not require a full closure of the expressway, noting that traffic control measures would instead be strategically implemented at key intersections to reduce disruption and maintain steady vehicular movement.
He said traffic management arrangements had been rolled out in phases, with more than 305 LASTMA operatives deployed to strengthen the three existing traffic management zones along the corridor.
According to him, the expanded deployment is aimed at ensuring free traffic flow, prompt response to incidents and strict enforcement of traffic regulations to maintain orderliness and road safety throughout the rehabilitation period.
Giwa attributed the sharp rise in vehicular traffic and haulage activities along the Lekki–Epe axis to major economic and infrastructure assets in the area, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Dangote Refinery and other rapidly expanding commercial and industrial hubs.
To address potential traffic emergencies, he said LASTMA had positioned high, medium and low-capacity recovery vehicles, including tow trucks, to quickly clear broken-down vehicles and prevent secondary congestion.
He added that drone technology would also be deployed for real-time aerial surveillance to detect, assess and resolve traffic incidents on the Lekki–Epe Expressway and other strategic locations across the state.