Kunle Adelabu
Dr Frederic Oladeinde, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation.
The Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Fredrick Oladeinde, has stated the Lagos State Government is rehabilitating the Dangote/Ikorodu Terminal of the TOS Benson Avenue, which has become a death trap for weeks.
He said that the stretch of the TOS Benson Avenue, was poorly rebuilt 10 years ago with poor materials and without consideration for the heavy duty trucks plying it, adding that lack of drainage system at the collapsed section of the road is responsible for the damages causing problem for the motorists and other road users.
Dr Oladeinde, in a statement received through a chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council and First Secretary to the State Government, Asiwaju Reuben Olorunfunmi Basorun, on Sunday, October 23, 2022, said the rehabilitation of the road has been awarded to the construction giant, Arab Contractors.
He said that drainage system which the damaged section of the road lacks will be completed on the axis next week while the other part will be completed at a latter date.
“Update on MOW&I/PWC Road Rehabilitation Works at T.O.S Benson Road, Ebute Ipakodo, Ikorodu, LGA. The road rehabilitation works was awarded to Arab Contractors”, Commissioner Oladeinde said.
“The drainage works on one side of the road has started and is being handled by a Sub-Contractor and expected to be completed next Thursday 27th October, 2022, and drainage works on the other side of the road will commence thereafter.
“The alignment of drainage works under construction was moved inwards into the existing roadway alignment to avoid relocation of gas pipeline and electricity poles”.
The Commissioner said that the existing width of the road will be reduced when completed.
“The effective width of existing roadway has been reduced to about 10.5m from 15.0m”, he said.
Speaking on the condition of the road as at Saturday 22nd October, 2022, the Commissioner for Transport stated that the collapse of the road was due to poor construction work done 10 years ago.
“Failure/Total collapse of the roadway section between Ebute Ipakodo Road inward Roundabout at Ferry Terminal (about 450.0m) length is due to the following:
“Use of poor materials for the road structure right from sub-grade to riding surface”, he said.
“Non-existent drainage system at this section causes water, especially storm (rain) water, to seep into the sub-grade and result in road failure.
“Most of the commercial activities which require use of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) to transport in and around Ibeshe, Ogolonto and environs make use of T.O.S Benson Road to connect their destinations”, he added.
“All these factors were not given serious consideration when the T.O.S Benson Road was built over 10 years ago”.
Oladeinde, however, assured the public that factors that caused the collapsed of the road has been factored into the ongoing rehabilitation.
“The scope of work for rehabilitation works has taken these factors into account”.
