Why Lagos State government is getting rid of roundabouts
There are two things that greet anyone who is arriving in Lagos for the first time. It’s not quite the three elders statue, rather it’s the bridges and roundabouts. But over time, most of the roundabouts have become irrelevant and are contributing to the gridlock being experienced in the city.
Following the deterioration of many roads in Lagos, the traffic situation worsened in 2019. The residents and commuters were becoming impatient with the government over the level of stress that they experience on the roads.
In a bid to resolve the issue, the Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, assured Lagosians that his administration was committed to doing all it takes to rid the state of the hellish traffic gridlock.
Some roundabouts at key intersections were found to be responsible for some of the gridlock. Commuters from both ends of the road were always stuck in long traffic as they try to maneuver the roundabout during peak hours. It was established that the gridlock in these areas would be reduced drastically by removing the roundabouts.
On December 29, 2019, the government announced that it was going to remove four roundabouts in key locations around the city to minimize the traffic snarls.
“Four roundabouts including Ikotun, 2nd roundabout on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Allen Avenue roundabout and Maryland will be removed to pave the [way] for road expansion and free flow of traffic,” it said.
The roundabouts have already been removed and junctions with traffic signals are being constructed to free up traffic in the areas. The Allen roundabout, in particular, is taking shape and is expected to be completed in April.
According to reports from the state ministry of transportation, about 27 of such structures had been identified for removal across the state. But the first four that were marked for removal were instrumental in causing traffic within important corridors.
