By Benson Daniel
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to reconstruct two major intersections in Ikoyi as part of efforts to tackle persistent traffic congestion and improve movement along one of the state’s busiest residential and business corridors.
The reconstruction will cover the Parkview and Banana Island intersections, with work expected to commence on September 14 and be completed within six months.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed the plan during a stakeholders’ engagement with residents and other groups affected by the project.
He said the two intersections had become an immediate priority for the government because of the traffic bottlenecks experienced around Parkview, Banana Island, Gerrard Road and Banana Road.
Osiyemi said the government had spent months consulting residents, estate associations, contractors, utility providers and traffic management agencies before settling on the intervention.
He stressed that the project would be executed in a manner that limits disruption to residents, businesses and commuters who rely on the roads daily.
According to the commissioner, construction activities will be adjusted around traffic patterns, with work slowed during peak periods and intensified when traffic volumes are lower.
The government is also working with relevant utility providers to protect critical infrastructure, including electricity, water and telecommunications facilities, during construction.
Osiyemi said proper coordination was necessary to prevent road construction from creating additional problems for residents and motorists already dealing with congestion in the area.
The project is being handled by Julius Berger, while traffic managers and other agencies are expected to support the execution and ensure that movement is maintained throughout the construction period.
The commissioner said the six-month completion target was firm, although the government would welcome an earlier completion if the work could be delivered ahead of schedule.
Residents of the affected areas have welcomed the planned reconstruction, describing it as a long awaited response to traffic problems that have become increasingly difficult to manage.
Parkview residents, in particular, have raised concerns about the existing road configuration, including a sharp 90 degree turn at the estate’s entrance and exit which has contributed to congestion and made movement difficult.
The intervention is expected to improve traffic flow by addressing some of the structural weaknesses at the intersections and providing a more efficient movement pattern for vehicles entering and leaving the estates.
The Lagos State Government has urged residents, businesses and community associations to cooperate with the contractors and traffic management authorities during the construction period.
The state said continued communication with stakeholders would be important to ensure that the project progresses without unnecessary disruption.
For Lagos, the Ikoyi project forms part of the wider effort to improve road infrastructure and address traffic pressure in densely populated parts of the state.
If delivered within the proposed timeframe, the reconstruction could provide significant relief to commuters and residents who regularly navigate the Ikoyi corridor.
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