Residents on the LASU-Iba axis of Alimosho and Ojo local councils of Lagos state may soon heavy a sigh of relief as the ongoing dualisation of the road is nearing completion.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson who gave the assurance in Lagos said that progress work on the project was at an advanced stage, adding that the road would be commissioned before the end of the first half of the year.

Engr. Johnson stated that the road when completed would open up the area, tackle traffic jams, reduce travel time and also serve as an alternative route or link road to the Badagry Expressway.

Putting the level of work so far done on the road at about 70 percent, the special adviser noted that some parts of the road had been covered with 50mm thick asphalt and kerbs on both sides of the new road, saying that the old road would also be overlaid with asphalt and both sides guarded with kerbs in order to protect the road from erosion and degradation.

He further explained that the scope of work the project included the provision of reinforced concrete drains on both sides, provision of 1.50meters walkways, provision of laybys for bus-stops and to also accommodate unforeseen incidences of broken down vehicles and streetlights.

He stated that the popular Igando junction would undergo some improvements, as the junction will be redesigned to conform to the existing design of the whole road project. He further revealed that due to the topography of the 18 kilometres road, some embankment mechanism would be put in place as a safety measure in order to barricade the road from ditches that exist along the area, this he stressed is necessary to safeguard vehicles from plunging into these ditches.

In conformity with the greening policy of the Fashola-led administration, the special adviser disclosed that the whole stretch of the median along the road wouldbe landscaped with beautifying plants in order to add to the aesthetics of the State while zebra crossing marks will also be put at strategic and busy points of the road.

Engr. Johnson however appealed to motorists and residents in that area to cooperate with the contractor on site and bear with the Lagos state government for any inconveniences that the road construction might cause adding that especially now that a section of the road had been closed for traffic.

This he said was to afford the contractor to work on it as the old road would also be overlaid with new asphalt.

It will be recalled that the dualisation of the LASU-Iba road was awarded to the construction company CCECC Nigeria Limited in 2006 but the award was later reviewed to encompass a larger scope of work by the current administration in the state. The road project is one of the several infrastructural improvement projects undertaken by the present administration in preparation for the mega-city status, boost the economic index and to further open up the State to accommodate the ever-growing population.

Among the other on-going infrastructural improvement projects are the infrastructural improvement of Yaba (Jibowu) to Iddo in the Mainland Local Government Area, the upgrading/rehabilitation of Apapa Central Business District, Construction of Okota-Itire overhead link bridge and road works and the rehabilitation of Funso Williams Avenue.

Others are holistic approach to road development in Lagos state 2007- 2011 (Alimosho Local Government Area) Phase 1, completion of Adetokunbo Ademola Street Extension and Victoria Island Phase II, rehabilitation of Ago Palace Way Extension in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government- Phase I and the construction of pedestrian bridge at Sanya Bus Stop, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

The Chairman of Key-Based Ventures Limited, a real estate giant, Otunba Yomi Ogunnusi has commended the beautification of Lagos city by the state government to reflect its status as a modern mega city.

Otunba Ogunnusi who made the commendation in a chat with Newsmen at the launch of a book titled, “Lagos State I am grateful” at the weekend in Lagos, said the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola’s recognition of the urgent need to salvage the environment of the state hitherto referred to as an urban jungle was highly commendable.

According to him, more than ever before the state government environmental policing agency known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) have been well repositioned to effectively police the environment.

“You can see that the demolition of illegal structures is a good thing for Lagos State. Apart from enhancing the built environment, it has scared miscreants away. Those structures were their hiding places. The drains can now be de-silted to avert excessive flooding when it starts to rain and the traffic bottle neck is gradually giving way in some area as a result of the demolition of the illegal structure build by some people on drains to block everywhere,” he said.

He said the notice served by the Lagos State government to owners of abandoned project to mobilise to site or lose the plots to the state government had also spurred rapid development of some areas in the state, adding that the Community Association Development(CDA) bill recently signed to law by the state government would facilitate grass root development .

Ogunnusi who was the Chief-Launcher at the occasion added that Key-based estates in Ilasan axis of Lagos, which consist of 400 super flats and the 300 luxury flats in Olokonnla being developed by his company soon be ready.

He said they have also commenced the development of a mega estate in Ade Odo area of Lagos, noting that the estate, which comprises of 1200 super flat, would address the issue of shortage of accommodation in that axis.

Amid plans to light up the ever busy Ogunnusi Road that has virtually all the banks in the country doing business in it, he hailed the efforts of the Nigerian Police through the Rapid Response Agency to make the area safe for the people to live peacefully and do their business.

He also lauded the author of the book, Mr. Bankole Fagbongbe, a lecturer at the University of Lagos and the former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for their vibrant philosophies aim at enhancing the welfare of the people.