Friday, November 19, 2010

Wanted: More bridges for life in Lagos

SHE had stood near Ojodu Berger Bus Stop, on the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway, for over 30 minutes, hoping there would be a break in the fast-flowing traffic, long enough for her to run across the highway.

When she could no longer wait, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her, in an effort to cross the road. She had almost run past the middle of the road when a car from the Ibadan end of the highway hit her.

Luckily for her, the driver had seen her early enough and was already applying his brakes when the car hit her and she toppled unto the bonnet before tumbling off, miraculously to the side.

As sympathizers gathered and congratulated the severely bruised and dazed woman for miraculously escaping with her life, a man in the group said the near-tragedy would not have occurred if there had been a pedestrian bridge in the area.

Indeed, the Ojodu Berger area, Oshodi Oke and Toyota Bus Stop on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and several others are some of the locations where the clamour for footbridges has continued unabated.

In these areas, Lagosians continue to face real danger to their lives as the absence of footbridges compel them to risk their lives dashing across the busy highways.

Those coming into the Lagos metropolis from Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have bemoaned the absence of a pedestrian bridge at Ojodu Berger Bus Stop.

A resident, Friday Olaleye, said: “There is an urgent need to construct a footbridge at Ojodu-Berger Bus Stop.

“Daily, pedestrians are knocked down as they attempt to cross the expressway.
“If the government’s criterion is the volume of pedestrian traffic between the two sides of the highway, then, we have more than enough.

“There are various residential estates and companies on both sides of the expressway.
“Besides, it is a busy and fast developing area where human and vehicular traffic are increasing daily. “Therefore, we are calling on both the federal and state governments to give us pedestrian bridge to save our lives.”

Residents along Oshodi-Oworosoki Expressway are also asking for more footbridges.
“While they commend the Lagos State government for constructing one at Gbagada, they however,  regret that that one alone cannot serve all the residents, considering how strategic the area is in terms of human activities.

A resident in Anthony Village, said: “We need more than one bridge on this road.
“ A place like Anthony-Oke is quite a dangerous place for pedestrians to dash across the dual expressway. We need a footbridge because people who are living around Anthony village cannot be trekking to Gbagada just to use the footbridge.”
Read More:http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29653:wanted-more-bridges-for-life-in-lagos&catid=3:metro&Itemid=558

No comments:

Post a Comment