Bodija bridge: Motorists seek alternative routes

Motorists plying the Secretariat-Bodija road in Ibadan metropolis are now diverting to alternative routes to beat the traffic snarl caused by the closure of the Bodija bridge.Investigations by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that commercial drivers heading to Bodija market from Bere now divert through Ikolaba-Favours junction to link up with the market road.Other motorists also pass through the State Secretariat to link Adeyi junction before heading to Sango.Speaking to NAN on the situation, Yekini Dauda, Nafiu Ambaliyu and Akeem Moradeyo, all commercial bus drivers plying the Bere-Bodija market, said the diversion had led to more cost in fuel consumption and time wasted.They, however, commended the state government for embarking on reconstruction of the bridge, saying it had become a death trap whenever there was a downpour.Some residents, however, complained about the traffic jam now being experienced on the road, saying there was need to deploy traffic management officials to the scene.Mrs Akinola Aderoju, who had to go through the State Secretariat-UI road, complained about the narrowness of the road and the delay experienced at the entrance and exit of the Secretariat due to checks by security men.Another resident, Mr Ayande Arije, said the reconstruction of the bridge ought to have been awarded in December after the Aug 26, 2011 flood.He called on the contractor handling the project to consider the importance of the bridge while justifying the investment of the state government and sacrifice made by the residents.When contacted, the State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, told NAN that the road would remain closed until the completion of the work on the bridge to avoid distraction each time there was a downpour.
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