By Oluwaseun Owojori
Flyover is an important road structure mostly built on intersections to carry away the uninterrupted traffic, mostly in urban areas. In order to curb the transportation problems within and around the Capital City of Oshogbo, the transformative and progressive government of the State of Osun ably and reliably led Gov Gboyega Oyetola is constructing Olaiya flyovers at major intersections of the city.
However, in most of the places comprehensive and long term planning had not been adopted responsible to partial fulfillment of eradication of traffic related problems in the city. The main aim and objective of Olaiya Flyover Bridge is to assess the socio-economic and environmental impact to the State’s capital.
A cross-sectional survey recently carried out based on convenience sampling was conducted on the ongoing Olaiya Flyover by the author of this article and some research assistants. Nearly one hundred and twenty shop-owners and blue-bus drivers (Korope) operating in the close vicinity of flyovers were administered with questionnaires and interviewed. One hundred and five (87.5%) respondents out of one hundred and twenty responded to the questionnaire served. Questions were framed about socio-economic and environmental impact during the construction of Olaiya Flyovers. During this construction phase, 10 (87.5%) of the respondent faced problems in their business because no hassle-free and proper alternates were provided to the road users, 102 (85%) noticed that sales or revenue has badly decreased for the shop-owners, 95 (79.1%) thought that crimes has increased due to consistent traffic jam most especially at night, 98 (86.1%) were in view that the problem of traffic jam still persist in the vicinity despite alternatives provided to meet the requirement of free flow of traffic particularly in rush hours. One-hundred and five participants (87.5%) replied that the situation around the construction site had increased the noise and air pollution in Olaiya and its environs. 98 (86.1%) respondents answered that there are other problems like lack of parking and inadequate traffic control personnel has created undue human and vehicular traffic to the construction of flyovers because the space of the service roads have been reduced.
Results from the author preliminary study showed that despite the inconvenience experienced by the business owners, road users and people around Olaiya junction, they believe the Flyover will bring more joy and satisfaction when completed. They hold belief that the presence of flyover will be able to meet the demand of free traffic flow, hence, unspool the traffic issues. It is therefore concluded that the Olaiya flyover when completed will not only be helpful to meet the demand in rush hours of the day but offers the Capital City of Osogbo an aesthetic ambience. Public health and transportation professionals in the State need to work in concert with construction personnels to ensuring that roads are safe and easy for movement and travelling upon completion.
The advantages of building Olaiya Bridge should be our focus for now. Among these advantages are road network extensions; professionally engaging our indigenous engineers and other site workers; sustaining mini-economies and macro-economies around the sites and within Oshogbo Metropolis; modernization of road network of Greater Oshogbo City; high reliability of road usage; frame buffering to road usage codes; and protocol transparency by traffic compliance officers.
This is indeed a sign of good governance provided by Gov. Gboyega Oyetola-led administration which is visible in other areas. Areas benefitting from this good governance are health, education, road infrastructure, agriculture, mining, information and communication technology, and most especially, attracting and facilitating both local and foreign investment to the state for business and economic growth. Electorates in the State of Osun should decide to return Gov. Gboyega Oyetola for the second term for him to continue and conclude the good work he has started.