FG summons Chinese contractor as Arepo gridlock worsens, motorists groan

Following the crippling gridlock witnessed around the Arepo Bridge on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr. Femi Dare, has summoned the Chinese construction firm handling the repair works for an emergency meeting.

The chaotic traffic situation, reported by The Punch, stems from ongoing repairs on several expansion joints on the busy expressway.

Responding to inquiries from our correspondent on what immediate measures were being taken, Engr. Dare explained that he had already called the contractor for a meeting aimed at finding a lasting remedy to the worsening congestion.

“I have immediately summoned the contractor for a meeting with a view to finding a lasting solution to it,” he said.

Meanwhile, motorists experienced hellish conditions on the route yesterday, as both lanes became completely blocked.

The confusion forced many drivers to take one-way routes, resulting in long, unmoving queues on both sides of the expressway.

A visit to the construction point showed that the first expansion joint at the Arepo Bridge had already been fixed.

Workers have since moved to the next joint near Arepo Bus Stop, where rubber installation was completed ahead of casting yesterday.

According to a worker at the site, the cast would require four days to cure before repairs shift backward to address the second joint on the same side of the road.

The worker, who preferred not to be named, explained that each location has two expansion joints, meaning four joints are being worked on per carriageway, eight in total.

He added that the repair is projected for completion between December 15 and 16.

The major cause of the heavy gridlock, he said, is the current diversion point, which sits directly at a junction where vehicles entering the expressway clash with those already on it.

The source noted that earlier repair points, such as the section before the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, did not experience traffic of this magnitude.

He assured that once the diversion is moved away from the junction, traffic flow should return to normal.

However, with the Christmas season approaching and the expressway notorious for holiday gridlock, many commuters are already anxious about what lies ahead this December.

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