The Federal Government, on Friday, ordered a temporary suspension of construction works on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to make travelling experience easier for people returning to their destinations after the festive season.

Julius Berger returned to the ever-busy expressway on Tuesday after leaving in December 2022 to continue construction works between the popular Long Bridge and Kara bus stop on the Lagos-bound carriageway.

The contractors’ return to the site and the resultant gridlock in the axis saw commuters groaning on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Thursday.

This however led the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Umar Bakare, to suspend work and supervise the removal of crash barriers on the highway on the Kara section on Friday.

Bakare told newsmen after re-opening section one of the highway to traffic that the measure was to give opportunity to those returning from the end of year holiday to have a better motoring experience.

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He said the contractors were able to carry out quick repairs till the early hours of Friday before removing the crash barriers in anticipation of the huge return journey of holidaymakers over the weekend.

The controller stated that the contractors would return to the site on Monday, January 9 to continue work and complete work between Kara and Long Bridge within 20 days.

Bakare said temporary repairs were done on some sections in December, adding that the contractors were able to further upgrade work on their short return in January.

“We understand and realise that there are still a lot of people who are still coming back from their various journeys.

“To this extent, we have asked the contractor, after completing that section (Kara), to hold on and remove the barriers to come back next week when we shall come back to complete the other section between Long Bridge and Kara to the final layer,” he said.

The controller said the Federal Government would make announcements and always sensitise the public on the progress of work on the highway.

Bakare appealed for patience of road users and lane discipline around construction zones, noting that the government was always concerned about their welfare.

He said the schedule of the Federal Government to complete the entire project in March 2023 was still on course.

The Star