The Lagos State Government has announced the closure of the Turnbull–Parkview junction along Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, for six months from September 14, to allow the commencement of improvement works aimed at easing persistent traffic congestion in the area.
The closure is expected to temporarily affect vehicular movement around the axis as the government undertakes the upgrade of the Turnbull–Parkview intersections, which have been identified as major traffic bottlenecks, particularly during peak periods.
According to the government, the project is designed to improve the efficiency of the intersections, reduce traffic build-up and ensure smoother movement of vehicles along Gerrard Road and other major roads connected to the junctions.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, who disclosed this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting, urged residents, estate associations, businesses and other stakeholders to cooperate with the Ministry to ensure the timely completion of the project.
Osiyemi said the project, which is expected to last six months, would involve the improvement of the existing intersections to address the traffic challenges experienced by motorists and residents in the area.
He stated that the Ministry would work closely with residents, utility providers and other relevant stakeholders to prevent disruption to essential infrastructure and amenities, including electricity, water supply and fibre-optic cables, during the construction period.
The Commissioner said observations and concerns raised by stakeholders at the meeting would be carefully considered before the contractor moves to site, stressing the importance of collaboration between the government and affected communities.
To minimise the impact of the construction on motorists, Osiyemi assured residents and road users that a detailed traffic management plan would be implemented throughout the project period.
He explained that construction activities would be carried out mainly during off-peak periods, particularly in the morning and evening, to reduce traffic disruption and ensure that movement within the area is maintained as much as possible.
The Commissioner added that a compensation plan had been put in place for cases where the project’s right-of-way affects private properties or results in encroachment on such properties.
Also speaking, the Ministry’s Director of Transport Engineering, Bolaji Bada, explained that the two junctions serve as links to major roads and frequently experience heavy traffic, resulting in gridlock, especially during peak periods.
Bada said the planned intervention would address the existing bottlenecks, improve the operational efficiency of the intersections and facilitate a freer and smoother flow of traffic for motorists.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Parkview Estate, Ronke Shokefun, expressed concerns over the persistent traffic congestion in the area and urged the Ministry to ensure that residents and other stakeholders remain adequately informed and involved throughout the construction period.
Similarly, the Chairman of Banana Island Estate, Shonaiki Abidemi, commended the Lagos State Government for the planned intervention, saying the project would improve traffic flow and ease movement within the area.
Abidemi urged residents to support the initiative and cooperate with the government and the contractor throughout the construction period to ensure the successful delivery of the project.