The recurring gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has renewed calls for greater use of rail transportation to reduce pressure on the busy corridor.
The 127.6-kilometre expressway carries tens of thousands of vehicles daily, including heavy-duty trucks transporting goods from Lagos ports to other parts of the country. Accidents, road repairs and vehicle breakdowns frequently cause prolonged traffic disruptions.
The proposed Purple Line, which is expected to connect communities along the Mowe, Ibafo, Magboro and Kara axis with parts of Lagos, has been identified as part of a possible solution. The existing Lagos-Ibadan standard-gauge railway also provides an alternative, although its route does not directly serve many communities and industrial clusters along the expressway.
Transport experts and stakeholders have continued to advocate an integrated rail system that can move more passengers and freight, reduce the number of trucks on the expressway, ease congestion and lower pressure on road infrastructure.
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