Concessionaire of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lekki Concession Company, has said it will start toll collection on the second toll plaza (Conversation Plaza) of the 49.36km reconstructed road on December 16.
This was disclosed on Wednesday, just as the Lagos State Government said that it had completed a two-way alternative route to cover the second stanza of the road for those unwilling to use the plaza.
This is coming about a year after payment was introduced at the first toll point (the Admiralty Plaza).
The state government also had to create an alternative route to bypass the Admiralty Plaza as requested by residents before the implementation of toll collection.
The Conservation Plaza is built about 10km away from Admiralty Plaza, starting from Chevron Drive to Oluwanisola Estate.
A statement obtained on Monday said the decision to commence the toll collection at the second plaza followed the completion of the second alternative road.
It quoted the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Public Private Partnership, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, who led top state government officials on an inspection of the alternative road, as saying that the road was also constructed to serve as an “access road for residents of the community living within the axis.”
He also said that the alternative road was constructed “to have a 90-degree angle. This angle would aid easy maneuvering of vehicles on the road, including turning. We have constructed drainage, walkways and streetlights, to aid visibility at night and suit the required standard of the state government.”
He said that the alternative route had been designed to accommodate streetlights, drainage system, dual walkways and detailed road signs.
These, he stressed, were put in place to ensure the safety and security of lives and property along the route.
Gbeleyi also said that the state government would deploy security and traffic operatives “to constantly patrol the road in order to ensure that motorists do not encounter any difficulty while driving.