The House of Representatives on Thursday, called on the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to check troubled spots along expressways in the territory and construct more pedestrian bridges in the areas.
This followed adoption of a motion by Lagos lawmaker, James Faleke at plenary, on the need to construct more pedestrian bridges on major highways in the territory to forestall incessant knockdown of people by vehicles.
The House also resolved that FCDA should include the projects in its 2018 statutory appropriation proposal.
“Pedestrian bridges, constructed to reduce risk of accidents and save time that pedestrians waste by waiting to cross the roads, are a common feature in cities across the world.
”The House also notes that the bridges are meant to provide safe means of crossing expressways and prevent the obstruction of free flow of traffic.”
He said that though pedestrian bridges had been built at some junctions in the area, increase in population of satellite towns, had made construction of more bridged necessary.
He explained that with construction of new roads in the territory, more junctions and trouble spots had emerged.
According to Faleke, since pedestrian bridges are not part of the original contracts, they often come up as an after-thought.
He also observed that existing bridges were built very far from each other, thereby forcing pedestrians to trek long distances to them or “just run across the expressways which further exposes them to danger’’.
”The House observes that some of the trouble-spots in the FCT include Jahi and Kagini on the Kubwa Expressway, and Airport Road,” he said.
The legislator expressed concern that existing pedestrian bridges were not secured and lacked maintenance as pedestrians had to deal with stench from refuse dumped on and around the bridges.
Adopting the motion, the lawmakers resolved that FCDA and Security Agencies should provide cleaning services and security, respectively, at the existing bridges.
In his remarks, Speaker of the house, Yakubu Dogara, mandated the Committees on FCT, and FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters to ensure compliance.
