Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has formally commissioned the Mushin Flyover, the last of the five overpasses built along the Red Line Rail corridor.
Sanwo-Olu flanked by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and members of the State’s cabinet inaugurated the project undertaken by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority on Saturday.
Opening of the infrastructure is expected to relieve motorists and commuters connecting Agege Motor Road from Onipanu of traffic and to solve congestion and delays associated with the railway level crossing at Ogunmokun axis.
The overpass also eliminated pedestrian and vehicular interference on the rail tracks, eradicating the risk of accidents and collisions between trains and vehicles.
Before the Mushin Flyover was completed, the Sanwo-Olu administration had opened four other bridges in Yaba, Oyingbo, Ikeja and Agege to create new connectivities along the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line, which spans 37 kilometres from Agbado to Oyingbo.
At the unveiling ceremony, Sanwo-Olu said the opening of the Mushin Flyover was another fulfilment of his administration’s promise to the residents, noting that the infrastructure had changed the face of public transportation in the State.
He said: “The Mushin overpass is strategically important for ease of movement and connectivity within Mushin and Onipanu communities, opening new routes to Agege Motor Road, Post Office Road and Ogunmokun axis. This infrastructure has brought not only traffic improvement, but also huge economic value to the area.
“With this new infrastructure, we have ensured there is minimal disruption on the Red Line corridor. For us, we have kept our promise to the citizens and made their lives better. The quality of infrastructure we have provided is about making the lives of our citizens better, improving their means of livelihood and quality of life.”
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that members of the host communities benefited from the project construction, pointing out that the construction also gave engineering students an internship opportunity to get first-hand practical knowledge.
The Governor also said the primary school demolished in the right-of-way of the flyover had been rebuilt in a nearby location, commending Mushin and Onipanu residents for supporting the development.
He charged the residents to take ownership of the infrastructure and protect it from deliberate destruction.
LAMATA Managing Director, Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, said the State Government had fully compensated owners of the buildings in the course of the project, which, she said, was handled by a local contractor