By Kingsley Adegboye

The Federal Government at the weekend disclosed that it has awarded the contract for the reconstruction of Phase 2 of Oshodi/Apapa Expressway  to construction giant, Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at the cost of about N15 billion. The government is also working to fast-track the completion of the rehabilitation of the section 1 of the ever busy expressway with its mains scope, the construction of a dedicated bridge across Port-Novo Creek into Tin-Can Island Port and a Trailer Park with a capacity for about 400 trailers.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, an architect, who made this known while on inspection of the ongoing repair works on Third Mainland Bridge added that his ministry has finalized the procurement of construction of dedicated lanes to Tank Farms, Tin-Can Island Port and Apapa Quays to ease traffic  congestion around the ports.

He said part of the contract will involve the reconstruction of the carriageway between Apapa Quays and Beachland Flyover. Onolememen who noted that currently, Julius Berger is carrying out massive erosion control works along Lagos/Otta Road inclusive of other drainage structures to ease perennial flooding problems experienced on the road, pointed out that the erosion control measure is to complement the impressive work done at Dalimo along Lagos/Otta Road by Julius Berger where over 1000 metres of massive open drainage channel has since been completed.

The Minister who also disclosed that the federal government will decide on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway in the next two weeks, said talks are already going on between the government and the concessionaire to the road, Bi-Courteney in a bid to find the way forward concerning its rehabilitation.

According to him, the issue of Lagos/Ibadan Expressway came up for discussion while briefing President Goodluck Jonathan on key indicator performance of his ministry the year. “A meeting was held last Tuesday with the President on the issue. We are also engaging the concessionaire to find the way forward. There has been a series of meetings with the concessionaire.

The meetings will end next week. After this, the way forward will be known”. He added that the concession will  certainly be reviewed by the federal government.