Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu on Thursday opened the Yaba rail crossing overpass bridge for vehicular movement.
The bridge which begins from Tejuosho market side of Yaba and crosses the rail line extends to Murtala Muhammed way.
At the opening ceremony of the bridge, the governor said the bridge was one of the four bridges that crosses the Red Rail line project being constructed by the state. Other bridges located at Ikeja, Mushin, and Oyingbo are also nearing completion.
According to Sanwo-Olu , the bridges were constructed to avoid vehicular collision with the trains when they begin operation.
He said over the years, the state has recorded avoidable fatal accidents on railway crossings which were caused by human errors. He cited the March 2023 Lagos State government staff bus and train collision incident at PWD/Ikeja GRA level crossing which claimed lives with many people suffering varying degrees of injury.
The governor added that with the opening of the Yaba overpass bridge and the ongoing construction of others, there will be no more occurrence of train-vehicular accidents at these locations.
He further said the Yaba overpass bridge is one of the components of the Red Line rail project, adding that testing of the Red Line train will commence latest by early next quarter with its commissioning to be done by President Bola Tinubu.
On the Blue Rail Line, governor Sanwo-Olu said he has awarded and signed the contract for the second phase of the project from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, adding that construction has started and is expected to be completed in three years.
He warned traders not to turn the Yaba bridge tp a market place as law enforcement agents have been instructed to enforce compliance. He also warned commercial bus operators not to turn the bridge into a motor park.
Governor Sanwo-Olu further said the state will soon begin construction of other rail lines which are the 68-kilometre Green line which will run from Marina to Lekki Free Zone and the 60 kilometres Purple Line from Redemption Camp to Ojo.
The Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo said the Yaba bridge would reduce traffic congestion on the axis
She said the 37-kilometre Red line is expected to move more than one million passengers daily when fully operational, and will reduce congestion, emission and facilitate easy movement for commuters and goods.
