Many Lagos workers who live along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have to return home due to heavy traffic gridlock that graced the road early Monday morning.
The traffic fare between Berger Bus Stop to Oshodi has increased from N400 to N1500, following the traffic gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway early Monday morning.
The heavy downpour that started late Sunday night subsided Monday morning but stagnated the vehicular movement due to concentration of pool of water on the long bridge.
At Punch Place, there was an accident of a truck carrying eggs that fell early in the morning. This caused the initial traffic that spread between the long bridge to Magboro.
At New Garage, the road was narrowed by the Julius Berger, the construction firm handling the rehabilitation of the road, making it more difficult for vehicles to navigate.
At Otedola Bridge, the construction firm created another demarcation that completely slowed down the speed of the vehicles. The heavy traffic spread towards Lagos Secretariat, Alausa.
Silverbird News 24 observed thousands of stranded commuters who resorted to sitting on the road setback after waiting for hours without vehicle to transport them to their destinations.
At Berger BRT terminal, passengers queued but there were no buses to convey them. It was gathered that many of the buses were in the traffic.
Speaking to our correspondent, a Lagos civil servant who refused to mention her name said she had sent a message to his boss about her predicament.
“I will be going back home. I stay in Ibafo and work in Oyingbo. I have spent N1500 to get to Berger and I cannot afford another N1000 to get to Oyingbo. We do not know the cause of the traffic. Everywhere is blocked.
Another worker, Miss Toun Adesodun told our correspondent that she had been on the BRT queue for more than two hours and there is no hope that a bus will come soon.
“Mondays have always been tough but today is tougher, perhaps because of the early rains. I may go back home if bus will not come,” she said.
Before now, Julius Berger had closed the entrance and exit to Magodo Estate Phase 1, creating another gridlock between Toll Gate and Otedola estate.
However, the gridlock has created business for road hawkers who sell soft drinks and plantain chips. To some of them who spoke to Silverbird News 24, bad traffic situation provides high sales for them.
