The gridlock on the Abuja-Lokoja highway has eased for motorists and commuters, as the Federal Road Safety Corps has opened a second lane for traffic flow.

On Tuesday in Koton-Karfe, there was an easy flow of traffic on both lanes, which are the Lokoja-Koton-Karfe-Abuja and Abuja-Koton-Karfe-Lokoja routes, in the early hours of the day.

Kumar Tsukwam, the FRSC sector commander in Kogi, stated that the unfortunate gridlock, which began on Sunday, has been resolved through drastic measures.

“We took a proactive measure by meeting with the Federal Ministry of Works and the construction companies along the route so as to find possible solutions. Part of it is that the contractors should fast-track works and create alternative roads to ease vehicular movement.

“As it is, the gridlock at Koton-Karfe and its environs has drastically reduced. Thanks to the combined efforts of operatives mobilised from RS8.3 Kogi Sector, RS8.33 Koton-karfe Unit Command, Corridor 3 and Military Personnel,” he said

He said that cars were diverted to use the Lokoja/Abuja lane, under construction, to mitigate traffic congestion within the corridor.

The sector commander reiterated that the major cause of the gridlock was lane violations, indiscipline, and impatience among motorists of smaller vehicles.

According to him, the FRSC has deployed more personnel to the Koton-Karfe axis to enhance visibility and placed them on red alert to mitigate traffic congestion.

He appealed to motorists to display maturity and discipline while driving on the highways to avoid a recurrence of the bitter gridlock that inconvenienced many travellers.

FRSC had expressed its frustration over motorists’ impatience along the Abuja-Lokoja highway, which caused traffic gridlock since Sunday.

The gridlock had subjected motorists and commuters to untold hardships as travellers were spending between eight and ten hours getting to Abuja or Lokoja.

(NAN)