TMB: Motorists from Ikorodu, Oshodi, Mowe others resort to public transport
…As some companies ease sanctions on lateness, absenteeism
Random interviews with mainly car owners using Third Mainland Bridge (TMB) to access Lagos Island and others on a daily basis on Wednesday made comments suggesting the possibility of going to work on public transport within the period of the Investigative Maintenance Test on the infrastructure.
Lagos State Government had announced a planned shutdown of TMB yesterday night ahead of the four-day Investigative Maintenance Test on the 16.1km bridge commissioned in 1991 by former President Ibrahim Babangida.
Majority of car owners averred that they made up their mind to drop their vehicles based on the estimated number of cars that will be dragging road space on Eko and Carter Bridges from today till weekend when the closure will be lifted.
Besides, some companies and even banks confided in our correspondents that their management is considering lowering minimum time of signing attendance to 10.00AM today, Friday as a way of reducing pressure on road for their workers.
One of the respondents who pleaded anonymity blamed the government for not pushing the closure within the just concluded public holidays, but was quick to point out that Lagos may have considered the religious interest of Muslim engineers who may be part of the officials working on the bridge.
Earlier on Thursday, Lagos State Government announced alternative routes including Eko and Carter bridges, and implored car owners to consider public transport within the period to reduce traffic crisis within the four-day period.
However, additional checks on Ikorodu Road and others onward TMB showed that heavy linage of tankers and other articulated vehicles are still holding sway, thus indicating additional confusion in the management of traffic within the period under review.
