By David Orji
Road users on the alternative route created by the Oyo state government during the ongoing construction of the Olodo Bridge along Iwo-Ibadan Road have called on Governor Seyi Makinde to hasten the completion of the project.
This was just as they lamented the excruciating delays and hardship experienced by users of the diversion route with several hours of traffic congestion.
NPO Reports correspondent who visited the site of the project on Sunday to ascertain the level of hardship reports that some motorists spend as long as four hours to navigate the alternative route.
Though few officials of the Ministry of Works and road safety officials were on hand to control traffic, the situation was still chaotic as the motorists lamented long hours.
The alternative route, which is from Oki through Ikumapayi, was created in August, a week after the collapse of the Olodo Bridge is a narrow road said to have been constructed in the days of the Western Region.
With two streams with narrow bridges, the route has become a hell for users as hundreds of vehicles pass through the route. What makes this route even worse is the fact that long, articulated vehicles also pass through the route creating bottlenecks.
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“We spend as many ass four hours here on some days,” said Mr. Sakiru Olodo, who said he passes through the place while on his way to work at the Bodija from his residence at Olodo. “For instance, today, this is my third hour now and it is a Sunday.” he told the NPO Reports.
Daud Kehinde Shangodoyin, the commissioner for works, public infrastructure and transport, while giving details of the route in August at its opening, said ““So, we needed to look for the easiest route to reduce the hardship on that road.
Now, we have located a road, which is 2.5km from Oki junction to Olodo Bank. “What we have done on this road is some repair work because it is an old and abandoned road.
“We have on the road four metres width of the bridge, which was constructed during the Western Region. “We also have two streams in which we have placed steel pipes that are six meters long and 1.2 meters in diameter. We have done some classification and put some stone base so that it will be passable for our people.
“A traffic official who spoke with NPO Reports on Sunday also attributed the long traffic congestion to indiscipline and and impatience of road users. “Most times, the drivers are the causes of this crisis because they dont want to observe basic rules.
“We have to battle with them to keep one side waiting with those coming have the way. But while doing that, many become impatience and in the process, this chaotic situation comes up,” he said