Recent rains frustrating target speed of work on Lagos-Badagry Expressway—CCECC
More negative impacts of recent heavy rains that submerged parts of Lagos communities and flooded several highbrow major roads in the state have emerged.
On Thursday, the contractors handling Lagos-Badagry Expressway and the Lagos Light Rail projects, Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC), said the recent downpour had slowdown work.
A senior official of the company, Mr. Izuchukwu Obioma, in an interactive session said, “The major challenge we have now is the rain which has really affected our work pace”.
“There are areas where we are supposed to be laying asphalt by now but we have to hold on for the rain to subside.
“What we do mainly now is to intensify piling and excavation in other areas so that when the rain subsides, we will fast-track other aspects of the job.
“I assure Nigerians that between November and December, enormous progress would have been recorded,’’ he said.
Obioma said that the Ojo Military Cantonment and the Police Station opposite also posed challenges to the road project.
“The fence of the Ojo Military Cantonment and the Police Station opposite are also meant to be demolished to create right of way, but we cannot do that until both are relocated.
“Although the military authorities have given approval for the relocation, we are waiting on the Lagos State Government to take necessary steps,’’ he said.
However, the company assured that the brief delay would not affect the 2019 conclusion date for the project.
A tour of the road between the Lagos trade fair complex and Volkwagen Bus Stop by our correspondent showed that serious excavation and construction of drainages are ongoing at different segments of the road.
It was also observed that banks built close to the fence of the Lagos State University (LASU) have started demolishing the structures to give Right of Way as construction activities get closer to the school.
