The first phase of the Olodo Bridge has been opened by the Oyo State government to ease the burden of pedestrian road users on the axis, assuring that the bridge would be opened for vehicular movements in a few weeks.
The state’s Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Professor Dahud Shangodoyin, said this when he inspected the project, on Tuesday.
The commissioner said the opening of the bridge for pedestrians was a demonstration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s commitment to the welfare of the citizens.
Professor Shangodoyin noted that one side of the Olodo Bridge would be opened for vehicles and pedestrians by the end of May.
Recall that the old Olodo Bridge was washed away by rain on July 23, 2023, thereby causing inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists living in the axis.
But speaking while inspecting the progress of the work at the ongoing Olodo Bridge reconstruction project, Shangodoyin said its opening was to keep to the promise by the government to open the first phase of the bridge for pedestrians today, 30 April, 2024.
He added that one side of the bridge was opened to ease the pressure on road users, reassuring that construction work would continue on the second side.
The commissioner restated that the work would be expedited to facilitate timely completion of the project as scheduled.
He said: “The governor has directed that this Olodo Bridge should be completed and be used by our people. And, today, I am delighted that we are opening it for pedestrians.
“As you can see, people are already using the road and you can see joy on their faces. What is left now is for us to complete the job on this road and open it for vehicular movement.
“I can promise you that before the end of May, we will open one side of the bridge for vehicular movement and pedestrians.
“This is another promise kept. His Excellency has delivered this project so that pedestrians can use the bridge for now, while motorists will do the same once the approach on the bridge cures within the next two weeks or thereabout.
“This bridge is 40 metres in length and 12 metres in breadth, which means that it can accommodate three vehicles at the same time. It has two lanes for vehicles. But we will be managing one side until we complete the second part of the bridge.”
The commissioner however advised residents to be cautious while using the Olodo Bridge as the contractor will still be working on the second part.
“My message to residents is that they need to be careful, because we are still working on the final part of the bridge.
“We don’t want okadas and micras to cross the bridge for now. We want both approaches to cure for 14 days before we allow vehicles to pass on the bridge,” he said.
Some residents of Olodo Bank Area, including Mrs Elizabeth Olalowo, Reverend Moses Adebisi and Mrs Omolola Joshua, thanked Governor Makinde for ameliorating the suffering of road users on the axis.
The resident expressed relief on the partial opening of the bridge for use by pedestrians.
