LAGOS Opens Williams Street To Decongest Traffic In Marina Axis
The Lagos State Government has re-opened William Street, Beside Central Bank of Nigeria Building to ease traffic flow between broad street and Marina as well as and enhance security of Life and Property in the axis
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business District, Mr. Agboola Dabiri while supervising the demolition of barricade and shanties erected on the road over ten years ago said the State Government has received series of complains by residents and commuters on the inconveniences and security treat the continued closure of the road had posed to them.
He said the Central Bank of Nigeria had closed the road which serves as a link between Broad Street and Marina to traffic over ten years ago during the extension work on CBN Building by Julius Berger PLC and since then had failed to open the road to traffic even after completing the extension work. He said the closed street had become an easy escape route for robbers and had been posing series of security treat to residents and business operators in the area.
“ we receives complains daily on robbery incidences and the inconveniences the closed road had constituted, the opening of the road will ease traffic flow in the axis, similar opening of road in Idumota fly over bridge constructed in 1978 and used only for seven month before being taken over by miscreants and street urchins was recently renovated and opened up by Governor Ambode which is assisting in easing the traffic flow in the area” the Special Adviser said.
He said there have been situations whereby fire fighters and police were prevented from getting to emergency scenes on time due to locked street gates and barricades as well as instances where rushing patients with emergency situations to hospital were equally frustrated.
Dabiri said information reaching government was that gates were being locked in several places throughout the day, causing much inconveniences of residents having to walk round to get to the main road, and that some gates were deliberately locked or barricaded just to prevent others from using the roads, thereby aggravating traffic situations especially in areas where such roads are meant to serve as thoroughfares or alternative link routes.
He added that most places where gates have been mounted have become environmentally unhygienic, while it had been observed that mechanics have also turned such streets to their workshops.
He said: “This government observes with caution that though the erecting and closing of these gates may be desirable, the consequences on the overall urban efficiency, aesthetics and functionality of the city and especially traffic flow poses questions difficult to answer.
“These barricades, though well intended, constitutes obstruction to traffic, especially in areas, where such street gates or barricades are on roads meant to serve as thoroughfares or alternative link routes,” Dabiri said.