THIS is not the best of times for the contractor handling  Moshalashi Ipaja-Ayobo, as the  July completion date fixed by the Lagos State government for the completion of the project may not be feasible.

The contractor, Messrs Plycon Limited has heaped the blame on it’s non -performance on the  relocation of infrastructures and demolition of some physical buildings,  and called for the extension of his contract to November “to ensure that the needed amenities and facilities connected with the project are put in place”.

Awarded in May, 2011, the Road Survey and Design Stage took place between June, 2011 to September, 2011, while construction work commenced in October 20, 2011, with a duration of  18 months

Reacting to the  delay in the completion of the 7.4-kilometre road last week, while conducting Journalists around the area, the Senior Project Manager,  Mr. Leke Adeniyi, an engineer, said  challenges encountered included the lack of natural outfalls for discharge of water that led to extended design period to find solutions.

The significant encroachments on the right- of -way (ROA) led to protracted negotiations over demolition of structures and compensation, while obstructions to carriageway path made design for the area difficult and that design choices forced by impossibility of relocating the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), pylons at Abesan.

“This situation made it necessary to encroach onto Federal-Government-Constructed service lane for Gowon Estate, with permission for this encroachment took several months to obtain from Federal Housing Authority (FHA)”, said the engineer.

He also said that location of Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines passing through Abesan gate area further compounded design challenges of that section.

“But most dauntingly, incessant and extended rainfall slows progress of earthworks has frequently destroyed work already done”, he said, adding that the Alimosho’s topography in general is prone to heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding.

However, status report provided last week by the officials from Lagos State Ministry for Works and Infrastructure, indicated that as opposed to the condition of the road prior to beginning of construction, all portions of the road are now motor-able without major challenges, save for the portion after Abewenla to Megida.
“To expedite earthworks in this section even during this period of heavy rainfall and eliminate the inconvenience to road users, the contractor has switched from using laterite to fill the remaining portions of the road by using sharp sand and stone base aggregate. These are significantly more expensive than laterite but are more stable in water and will enable fast completion of the section even during this rainy period”, said a supervising engineer, who attested to the improved work pace at the site.

It was also observed that completion of culvert at Abewenla would facilitate dispersal of water currently pouring at Oluwaga and environs. Culvert will be completed over the next three weeks.
It would be recalled that .
that would have expired next July. “But based on reality on ground, expected total project time overrun is additional six months that would elapse in November 2013”.

Among the initial challenges that were eventually overcame were the demolition and relocation of 50 fences/buildings along the right of way, relocation of utilities (PHCN poles and cables, Telecom cables, Water pipes) along both sides of entire 5.5km of drain alignment”.
He said: “Once earthworks and the remaining drains are completed, the most challenging phases of the construction are done, with paving work on the road is expected to begin from Baruwa by the end of May and asphalt portion from Moshalashi to Federal Housing Estate will start in September, when rains should have subsided and finish in October 2013. The expected project and handover is November 2013”, the Project Manager said.
Residents confirmed that before the contract was awarded, the entire stretch of the road from Opeki, Boys Town and all the way to the gate of the Low Cost Housing Estate, Abesan, has completely collapsed. The gullies at the Estate Gate were the type that swallowed small cars and caused jeeps and even bigger vehicles to be stranded.
“The horror at the area around the Estate Gate is further heightened by the fact that over 90 per cent of the vehicles going to Ayobo from Iyana Ipaja divert at the gate and go through the estate to connect Ayobo, Ikola Ilumo or Command, just to avoid the Ayobo/Ipaja road. Many drivers going to Ayobo from Iyana Ipaja end divert their vehicles through Baruwa to Oluwaga to connect Ayobo, all in a bid to avoid the extremely bad road”.
Ordinarily, the shortest distance to Oshodi for those living in Ayobo, Bada/Aiyetoro is through the Ayobo/Ipaja road. However, that people in these areas now prefer to go to Oshodi through Sango in Ogun State, passing through the recently built Ikola/command road, to come out at Abule Egba, before boarding Oshodi Bus, a situation described “a needless merry-go-rounding that also makes commuting to cost more”.
Again, from Iyana Ipaja, many people now prefer to connect Meiran, passing through the Command road in Ajasa to get to Baruwa – not minding that these are opposing ends to each other. Because of this, those who live directly along either side of the bad road or do business there (like Arikawe) and who have no other route to get to their destinations are usually stranded and suffer untold hardship.