By Seyi Babalola
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu will on Thursday, commission the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line Overpass Bridge at Yaba.
The bridge is bound to improve traffic flow within the Yaba-Ojuelegba axis into other parts of the state.
The T-shaped bridge takes traffic from Murtala Muhammed Way into Ojuelegba Road and vice versa over the rail tracks.
Traffic into Ojuelegba Road from Murtala Muhammed had been through a rail level crossing and this often led to huge delays for train operations apart from the high potential for accidents with vehicles and pedestrians.
The Yaba Overpass Bridge is one of the four new bridges built by the Sanwo-Olu’s administration on the Red Line rail alignment to eliminate vehicular/pedestrian and train traffic interaction.
The bridge will facilitate smooth movement for the Red Line which the Governor had promised Lagosians would commence operations soon.
Speaking on the completion of the bridge, Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo said the overpass bridge will eliminate incessant accidents at level crossings as well as facilitate unhindered movement for the Red line trains which frequency will be very high.
“We have completed the four bridges that we designed for the Red Line. The Yaba Overpass Bridge is one. The others are at Ikeja, Mushin and Oyingbo. The Federal Ministry of Transport has given assurance to start the four they are expected to construct very soon,” she explained.
Sunrise News recalled that Mr Sanwo-Olu had last month announced to Lagosians that the overpass bridges would be opened to traffic beginning from October end to free up gridlock and ease the headache of motorists in the state. He said the flyovers are constructed in order to completely reduce human impact on the Red Rail Line, which is expected to roll out by first quarter 2024.
The first phase of the Red Line which traverses a 13km from Oyingbo to Agbado, is the second iconic project to be delivered by Mr Sanwo-Olu, the first being the first phase of the Blue line Rail that runs from Marina to Mile 2.
The two projects are being financed by a loan packaged by a consortium of banks, put together by the Central Bank of Nigeria.