Third Mainland Bridge Closure: Traffic, transport fare hike and the plights of residents

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By Chris Otaigbe

Finally, the much-publicized six-month partial lockdown of the Third Mainland Bridge for repairs began on July 24, 2020, but the traffic stress and the recently approved transport fare increase by the Lagos State government may deepen the already worsening plight of residents.

In the words of the Lagos State Traffic Management (LASTMA) boss, Olajide Oduyoye, a part of the bridge will be shut down for three months, while the other leg will be closed three months later for traffic to resume on the earlier shut leg of the bridge.

Acclaimed as the second-longest bridge in Africa, the Third Mainland Bridge was partially shut down midnight of Friday 24, 2020, for maintenance work. Arguably the busiest in Africa, the Third Mainland Bridge, which starts from Oworonshoki, links Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as well as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, ending at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.

Inaugurated in 1990 by the Babangida military junta, the bridge used to be the longest in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was completed. The bridge was reported to be experiencing some weak joints, which raised some serious safety worries for users.

For three days of an investigative maintenance check, the bridge was last closed for repairs in August 2018, while some components needed for completion of repairs that were not available locally, were sourced abroad.

To ensure a seamless repair exercise, Lagos State and the Federal Governments engaged in several consultations aimed at developing a perfect traffic management plan.

To this end, the federal government will be working with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as well as the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) to manage traffic during the period.

About 600 LASTMA personnel would be deployed to direct traffic to ensure free vehicular movement on major routes across the axis.

During a recent press conference jointly held by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, and the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works, Aramide Adeyoye, Lagosians were assured that necessary measures would be put in place to reduce gridlocks during partial closure of the bridge.

Consequently, there would be a diversion of traffic in two phases during the partial closure of the bridge between Friday, July 24, 2020, and January 24, 2021.

The first phase of the diversion, which will last for three months for repairs of the Oworonshoki bound lane of the bridge, would be from 12:00 am to 1:00 pm from Oworonshoki to Lagos Island on the Lagos Island-bound lane, while the afternoon traffic from 1:00 pm to 12:00 am would be from Lagos Island to Oworonshoki on the Lagos Island-bound lane.

The second phase, which is to last for another three months for repairs of the Lagos Island-bound lane of the bridge, would be for the morning traffic from 12:00 am to 1:00 pm from Oworonshoki to Lagos Island on the Oworonshoki bound lane, while the afternoon traffic from 1:00 pm to 12:00 am would be from Lagos Island to Oworonshoki on the Oworonshoki bound lane.

To reduce the stress and ease the pressure on commuters, which might be caused by the maintenance of the bridge, especially in terms of traffic build-up, motorists have been urged, by LASTMA to ply some alternative routes such as Carter Bridge through Iddo through Oyingbo to join Adekunle ramp inward Oworonshoki. Also, motorists could also ply Ijora Olopa through Western Avenue to Ikorodu Road.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Oladeinde, priority would be given to motorists driving from Mainland to the Island in the morning and afternoon to use the Third Mainland, while those driving against traffic will use the alternative routes.

Meanwhile, Lagos State government had carried out improvement work on alternative routes mapped out for diversions. According to the state governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, more roads have been furnished while the design of alternative routes has been improved. The state government is equally working on other arterial routes so that motorists and commuters can have a seamless journey to and from their places of work.

According to the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, significant efforts have been made toward providing alternative routes during the closure. The Federal Ministry of Works has repaired Iddo-Oyingbo Road, while the drains on the road have equally been cleared. Failed portions of the Independence Tunnel on Ikorodu Road have also been fixed.

With all these measures, it is estimated that the partial closure would likely affect only about 25% of the regular traffic on the bridge, while 75% of vehicles that normally ply the route will still have access to move on the bridge during the period of repair.

To further lessen the distress that may be experienced by commuters and ease the roads of gridlock, the state government had to strengthen the state-owned Lagos Ferry Service (LAGFERRY) by doubling its capacity for a mass movement, thereby giving the residents an alternative through water transportation.

Consequently, commercial operation is to commence on two new routes, Ilaje-Bariga Terminal, where passengers would be conveyed from Oworonshoki to Victoria Island to Falomo-Ikoyi to CMS-Marina and Ebute-Ero; as well as Bayeku to Oke Ra Nla to Badore.

Increase in LAGFERRY’s daily operation will see most of the large passenger-boats, like the 50-Seater MV Mobolaji Johnson and MV Bola Tinubu, embark on two trips every morning and evening respectively.

Also, within last week, the Lagos State government approved a 46% fare hike on its buses.
Towards the end of last week, Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL), operator of Marcopolo high-capacity buses, announced it has secured the approval of the state government for upward review of fares and right to ply Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) dedicated lane.

The Chief Executive Officer of LBSL, Mr Idowu Oguntona, made the announcement in a statement on Monday, July 20, 2020, issued by the company’s Public Affairs Officer, Mr Afolabi Olawale.

According to Oguntona, the approvals would take effect from August 1, adding that the firm had been given approval by the state government for an average of 46% increase in the transportation fare of LBSL.

“The approval to use the BRT corridor by the governor is to further give the commuting public a better experience on Lagos roads. The increase in the number of passengers and fare becomes necessary in order to enable the company to sustain its operations following the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on public bus transportation.” The LBSL boss said.

He added that the governor also approved LBSL’s request to increase the number of passengers per bus from 20 to 42 in strict observance of updated COVID-19 safety protocol as directed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the operation of public transport, whilst ensuring all other measures are in place.

As part of ongoing reforms in the LBSL, he disclosed that the government has also granted approval for the operators of the buses to commute passengers to its full capacity without standing.

According to him, this must be done with strict adherence to necessary safety protocols.
The Managing Director said COVID-19 guidelines, which limited the firm to convey not more than 20 passengers per bus, had affected the running of the buses, lamenting that the development led to 72% drop in revenue of the company while running costs remained fairly unchanged.

Oguntona described the approval from the governor as a long-expected yearning by the agency.
News of the approval, according to him, came at such a crucial time when commuters needed it most, thus making bus journey predictable on corridors with bus-dedicated lanes.

The decision of the governor, he said, would further reposition the company for enhanced performance, assuring all stakeholders of the company of an improved operational experience going forward.

Oguntona added that the fare increase would improve LBSL’s operational efficiency and place the company on the path of sustainability in the long-term.

According to him, the permission granted by the governor now gives access to LBSL buses to use the dedicated BRT corridor from Berger through Ikorodu Road to Leventis, TBS, and Obalende and from Oshodi through Ikorodu Road to Leventis, Inner- Marina, TBS and Obalende among several other routes.

He commended the gesture of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for listening to the yearnings of Lagosians when it mattered most by allowing LBSL to ply BRT lane.

Oguntona also appreciated efforts of the Ministry of Transportation as well as Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) for their relentless efforts in moving the company forward.

He assured Lagos residents that the company would continue to strive harder to bring public transportation in Lagos State to a reputable standard.

In June, it was reported that Covid-19 pandemic, high cost of transportation, and scarcity have triggered a significant price increase of major household items across Lagos markets.

This approved fare increase by the State Bus service is unfortunate, as it would further skyrocket beyond the reach of the average Lagos resident and traders.

As much as one commends the state government for the depth of thought and planning invested in the measures geared towards easing the pain of commuters during the period of the partial lockdown of the Third Mainland Bridge, it suffices to remind the government that Nigerians have faced enough pressures to suffer another fare hike.

Requesting the government to subsidized the bus service for its residents, if indeed the Operators are being hurt by the Covid-19 public safety measures, would not be asking too much; because the residents are who are merely trying to recover from the one-month lockdown, are barely surviving.

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