Lagos State government on Wednesday said it has deployed over 300 State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials to help control traffic during the city marathon slated for Saturday 11, February 2017, assuring that every arrangement had been put in place to make the event a success.
State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Anofiu Olarenwaju Elegushi, said this while briefing newsmen in his office, calling on residents to use the various alternative routes created in order to avoid untold hardship.
According to Elegushi, the 42km race, which will kicked off at holds between the hours of 6am and 2pm, will kick off from the National Stadium, Surulere and terminate at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island.
To this end, the commissioner said there would be traffic restriction to inward journey Fadeyi, Ojuelegba and Stadium, while no U-Turn shall be allowed between Anthony through the Interchange and Jibowu on Ikorodu Road as well as between Ojuelegba and Stadium on Funsho Williams Avenue.
He said other areas where vehicular movement would be restricted include Gbagada inward 3rd Mainland Bridge, Falomo Roundabout inwards Bourdillion and Akin Adesola Street inwards Bar Beach
Elegushi, who said traffic restriction in these areas would help give the marathoners free passage, added that alternative routes had been carved out to enable residents go about their activities.
He said Motorists from Masha inward journey Stadium shall be diverted to Shitta Roundabout for onward movement through Falolu and Adeniran Ogunsanya Roads to their various destinations.
“From Eko Bridge, motorists shall be diverted through Costain to connect Ebute-Metta, Orile, Nigerian Breweries and Bode Thomas through Apapa Road (now Moshood Abiola Way),” he said.
He also informed that from Alaka Estate, motorists shall be diverted through Iponri or Iponri Estate.”Motorists from Apapa/Orile – Iganmu to Funsho Williams shall be diverted through Apapa Road to continue their journey,” Elegushi said.
Speaking further, the commissioner stated that on Ikorodu Road, movement would not be allowed in both directions between Anthony and Ojota beyond Anthony, adding that traffic would also be diverted through Town Planning Way before Anthony – Oke.
He urged residents to corporate with the various security agencies in order to avoid gridlock, saying, “Since we are taking this option and restricting movement, we feel duty bound to provide information on alternative routes that people can take on the day of the event.”
The commissioner, while saying that it was the duty of government to ensure success of the exercise by deploying adequate traffic diversion signs and personnel to monitor the traffic, among others, however, assured that the routes would be opened as soon as the last runner left each point to ensure the traffic was not held for too long.
“It is our plan to mount and deploy adequate traffic diversion signs and personnel to monitor and montage traffic. The routes will be open as soon as the last runner leaves each point to ensure the traffic is not held for too long,” he said.