by 
Federal Capital Territory Administration Traffic Management Task Team
says it will close the popular Gwarinpa U-turn as part of measures toward
resolving the festering traffic lockjam in that axis. Chairman of the team, Mr
Ikharo Attah, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Friday in
Abuja, said that the decision was in tandem with the resolve of the FCT
Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to ease traffic flow in the territory.
Attah said that traffic bottleneck on the
roads as well as rising accident ratescin had reached alarming levels. He
explained that the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development
Authority (FCDA), Malam Umar Jubrin, acting on the minister’s directive, mandated
some engineers to ensure that the traffic team’s request was fully carried out.
“After over two months of study of the situation during peak periods, we
discovered that the major cause of traffic gridlock on the Kubwa expressway is
the Gwarimpa U-turn located close to the Charley-boy route.
“We have tried to manage the situation for several weeks
through the Federal Road Safety Corps by putting men and vehicles on the ground
during peak periods. “This yielded very little result as the traffic bottleneck
is caused by those negotiating at the U-turn. “This is a tough decision
particularly as it will affect those entering Gwarimpa from the expressway, but
we must not shy away from addressing the plight of millions plying the other
northern expressway (Kubwa road),’’ he said. He said that motorists would have
to use the EFAB Metropolis interchange (flyover), to connect with the service
lane that leads to Gwarimpa Housing Estate. According to Attah, while the
engineers will seal up the U-turn, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps
would be on the ground to direct motorists and ensure the work is done without
disruption.
Source: (NAN) VANGUARD
