Confusion and unprecedented traffic jams reigned yesterday in most parts of Lagos following the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge.
Though the partial closure entered its third day yesterday, it was the first working day of the closure.
The partial closure of the bridge led to serious traffic snarl on other routes to the island particulary Ikorodu road as the traffic spilled over to the areas.
Folowing the development, business activities were grounded as most workers in Lagos could not get to their places of work on time.
Despite the fact that most of them left their homes early, the traffic situation in most parts of Lagos mainland and the island, which was chaotic, prevented them from getting to their various offices in good time.
The closure, however, forced many Lagos residents to patronise the transit train of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).
THISDAY checks showed that motorists had a rough time plying the Mile 12, Jibowu, Ketu, Ikorodu, Ijora and Apongbon roads as they were virtually blocked, thereby forcing commuters to trek to their various destinations.
Commuters who did not trek resorted to taking bikes where that was available.
Commercial motorcyclists, also known as okada, made brisk business by jacking up their fares by as much as 200 per cent.
A commuter, Mr. Kinsley Onah, who said he left home as early as 6am for a 9am appointment had to take an okada as the BRT buses were not available in his area.
According to him, �Between Ketu and Palmgrove bus-stop, I paid N200 for an okada ride of less than 10 minutes. The BRT, which could have alleviated our problems, were nowhere to be found because most of them could not turn up at various points.�
At the Mile 12 BRT terminus, there were long queue of passengers.
�I have been here as early as 7.30am, and I have not boarded my bus. It is really pathetic to most of us who are leaving far,� Nkechi Elekwa said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the three coaches of the corporation from Agbado and Ijoko in Ogun State to Lagos were filled to the brim with commuters.
The situation also forced many passengers to hang on the train, a practice which the NRC authorities had discouraged.
In spite of the fare hike from N70 to N100, passengers had massed the terminal as early as to 5.30 am to board the trains.
Some of the passengers said they decided to use the train to avoid the traffic jam on the Ikorodu/Lagos Expressway.
Apapa-bound passengers said after disembarking, they would board ferries plying Apapa/CMS to get to the Island.
Commuters and motorists were not that lucky as they lamented the traffic snarls on the various routes caused by the diversion of traffic from the bridge to other routes.
They blamed government for not rehabilitating the alternative routes before closing the bridge, citing the Yaba/Oyingbo road which is under rehabilitation.
�If the Yaba/Oyingbo and other link roads were put in order, people would spend less hours in traffic.
�Many of the roads are riddled with potholes, worsening the traffic situation. We have spent more than three hours from Ikorodu to Yaba, a journey that is less than 30 minutes,� another commuter, Mr Kola Kalejaye, said.
However, officials of the construction company handling the dualisation of the road, complained that the diversion of traffic to the route would further delay the completion date of the project.
Traffic on Ojota/Stadium axis dragged as both the expressway and the service lanes were clogged.
Hundreds of commuters who were stranded at the various bus stops, however, got a relief from the Lagos State-owned BRT buses.
A banker, who preferred not to be identified, described the traffic situation as chaotic and frightening.
A commuter, who resides at Ojodu Berger on the outskirts of Lagos, said he decided to relocate to Somolu to enable him to get to his office on Victoria Island without much stress.
Transport fares on virtually all the major routes in the metropolis went up as commercial mini-buses and cabs cashed in on the situation to make brisk business.
Bus fares jumped from N70 to N200 on the Ojota to Mile Two on the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, while commuters paid as much as N250 from Ojota to Ojuelegba as against N100 being previously charged.
Ojota to Yaba attracted N250 as against the normal fare of N120, while buses plying Ojota/CMS/Obalende route charged N400.
However, there was no traffic jam on the Ajah/Obalende route, while fares still remained between N100 and N150 from Ajah to CMS and Obalende.
A bus driver, Mr Raji Yusuf, expressed surprise that the closure of the bridge did not affect traffic situation in the area.
�I thought that by today, we will not be able to move but I am surprised that I spent the same two hours I normally spend from Ajah to CMS,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Young Arabamen, said: �Unlike Saturday, there has been no problem, no casualty and no incidents today’.�
�We thank the public for keeping simple laws and with their help, the magic promised is really working.�
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Lagos, Mr Kayode Olagunju, said the exercise had proved successful, contrary to expectations that it was going to be hectic.
He said the lessons learnt from the problems encountered on Saturday had helped to prepare the management for a new strategy.
�We are not saying that the roads are completely free of traffic jams, but we will ensure that it is free-flowing,� he added.
�There will be no commercial motorcyclists, no walking and no hawking on the bridge to avoid casualty as we lost three commercial motorcyclists on Saturday who rode against traffic,� Olagunju said.
However, some policemen were seen running after commercial motorcyclists and searching their passengers rather than controlling traffic under the Jibowu foot-bridge.
But Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr Tunde Sobulo, justified the action of the policemen, describing the Jibowu area as a traditional stop-and-search zone because many travellers had been dispossessed of their belongings in the area.
Sobulo, however, agreed with Arabamen that traffic flow had been smooth due to the cooperation of motorists.
The partial closure of the bridge to pave way for repairs had begun last Saturday, August 2.
The repair will last two months.
Aug52008