Traffic in the upscale Ikoyi and Lekki areas of Lagos State came to a halt on Wednesday morning when a truck loaded with containers became stuck under an overhead billboard near the Lekki Link Bridge, heading towards Alexandra Roundabout.
The truck, which blocked around 85% of the road since 5:30 am, caused a complete gridlock, rendering the road impassable for vehicles.
As a result, motorists and early commuters trying to reach their destinations have been stuck in traffic while emergency responders work to clear the obstruction.
A spokesman for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, informed Channels Television that a welder has been called in to remove some of the barriers and entrapments.
“The road has been temporarily cordoned off, while effort is ongoing to remove the damaged barrier,” he said.
Admiralty Way Shut
In the meantime, traffic management authorities in the state have closed off Admiralty Way heading towards Lekki.
According to a statement from the LASTMA spokesman, the truck that tried to navigate under a billboard structure along the road became stuck beneath the overhead installation.
“The severity of the entanglement necessitated the deployment of a technical specialist, who is presently engaged in precision-cutting of the iron framework to liberate the immobilised vehicle.
“Consequently, the expressway has been cordoned off temporarily to allow for an unimpeded and secure rescue operation. This strategic closure is imperative to safeguard both operatives and road users during the ongoing extraction process,” he said.
LASTMA apologised for the disruption and inconvenience the road closure has caused motorists and assured the public that normal traffic flow would be restored immediately upon the conclusion of the operation.