A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, has urged the Federal Government to urgently construct pedestrian bridges at strategic areas along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Akande-Sadipe who represents Oluyole Federal Constituency, made the call in a statement by her Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Olamilekan Olusada on Friday in Ibadan.
Akande-Sadipe said that to save lives and improve the economic well-being of the people, the federal government should urgently construct pedestrian bridges at five locations along the expressway.
She said that because of the increase in population in the area, there was a need for the bridges for access to schools, homes, businesses and markets.
“There is a need to construct pedestrian bridges along this expressway to save lives, reduce the sufferings of the people, and improve economic interactions from both sides of the expressway.
“The ongoing construction of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway does not make any arrangement for pedestrian bridges in spite its safety implications,” the statement quoted Akande-Sadipe to have said.
Akande-Sadipe listed areas that required pedestrian bridges as: Technical University; Toll Gate, Ibadan; Fẹ́lẹ̀lẹ̀, Ìbàdàn; Sókà, Ìbàdàn; Sanyo, Ìbàdàn; Bólúwají, Ìbàdàn; Academy; and Eléruku.
She also called for the construction of two pedestrian bridges between Muslim and Ọlọ́hun-Ṣògo, Ìbàdàn; two between Ọlọ́hun-Ṣògo and Ọ̀rẹ́-Méjì bridges
Three three between Ọ̀rẹ́-Méjì and Ìwó Road; three between Ìwó Road and General Gas bridge and five between General Gas and Ọ̀jọ́ọ.
The lawmaker urged the works ministry to prevail on the contractor handling the project to commence the construction of pedestrian bridges.
She also urged the contractor to use emergency means to effect a variation on the existing contract to accommodate same.
The lawmaker on Wednesday, presented a petition by a group, Concerned Youth for Welfarism to the House of Representatives at plenary, on the plight of pedestrians along the expressway.