12 Major Roads In Lagos State: Lengths & Connecting Routes
In this article, we have compiled a list of the major roads in Lagos.
Roads are important for our movement and transportation. Imagine you wake up with a place you would like to visit in mind, but there is no road to take you to your destination. How do you get there? You would probably have to fly.
Have you ever looked across your fence, seen the next street just a stone throw away, but then you have to walk miles before getting there because there’s no road leading there?
Now, we get the idea of how important roads are for our movements.
List Of Major Roads in Lagos
In Lagos, many major roads lead-in, and out of towns and streets. These roads make commerce easier. They are, but not limited to:
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Ikorodu Expressway
This is a four-lane highway and the only road that links Lagos mainland to Ikorodu. It is 24.5 km long, and well-lit at night. There are transits on the road where you can board buses going into Ikorodu.
The road begins after the flyover in Lagos mainland. Then, it separates Mushin from Somolu in the north. It also crosses the Apapa Oworonshoki express and heads to Mobolaji Bank Anthony way.
Here, it makes an interchange where you can turn driving into the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. After which, it becomes left and right lane road that leads to the east of Ikorodu.
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Lagos-Abeokuta Highway
This is a busy expressway that links Abeokuta to Lagos. It is 81 km long. It helps people living in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun to travel to Lagos especially for business purposes.
The road is divided into two lanes. One from Ota to Lagos, and the other from Lagos to Ota.
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Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
The expressway is 127.6 km long.
The highway connects Ibadan, the capital of Oyo to Lagos. It is the oldest interstate route in Nigeria which leads to the north, south, and east. It was commissioned in 1978 by General Olusegun Obasanjo.
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Lagos-Badagry Expressway
Also called Trans-West African Coastal Highway. This is a major link between Lagos with Darkar, Senegal. It was commissioned by Babatunde Fashola to ease congestion in the area.
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Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki Expressway
The expressway goes through Surulere and Mushin, connecting Apapa to Somolu.
The six-lane expressway has two one-way roads parallel to it. It begins from the port of Lagos and runs across Lagos-Badagry express, Ikorodu road and Tin can island. It also has stopped for Lagos transits.
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Lekki-Epe Expressway
The toll road is 49.5 km long which connects the Lekki and Epe districts in Lagos.
It is the first private toll project in Africa constructed to a high standard. It was financed by the African development bank and has eased traffic issues ever since its completion in 2011.
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Western-Williams Avenue
Known as the Western Avenue Highway is situated in Surulere. It is a commercial place, so it is usually congested. You can find Nigerian breweries, schools, and hospitals around here. Houses around the area are expensive.
This highway is renamed after the late Olufunsho Williams, an influential commissioner under colonel Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s regime in Lagos. He was an engineer who finished at the University of Lagos.
He supervised most roads and bridge construction in Lagos. 2017, He was killed in his home in Ikoyi. Seven months after, the former governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu renamed the avenue to after him.
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Lekki Coastal Road
This road has been under construction since 2019.
The idea is to create an alternative route for the already congested Lekki-Epe expressway. The coastal road is created as a result of the link between the Lekki-Epe expressway (Located at Victoria Garden city junction), and the freedom way in Eti Osa. It is 8.7 km long.
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Awolowo Road
This road is situated in Ikoyi, the wealthiest community in Lagos.
As a commercial road, it leads to many luxurious residences and estates some of which are up for purchase. The developing neighborhood houses many organizations and companies.
There are prominent hospitals around like Family dental care, Pinnacle medical services, etc. There are churches and mosques around as well.
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Awolowo Way, Ikeja
The major road leads to few residential houses, good schools, banks and streets like the known computer village. It is 1.44 km long and is situated between Ikeja Along and Ikeja Underbridge.
It connects various places in Ikeja such as Opebi, Oregun, Allen, and Toyin street.
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Alfred Rewane, Ikoyi
The road is named after Alfred Rewane, a politician, businessman, and friend to Obafemi Awolowo who was murdered in his residence in the 90s.
His residence used to be a place for political meetings which led to the formation of NADECO (National Democratic Coalition). The road leads to many residences, hotels, and businesses.
Tricycles and Motorcycles are banned on Lagos major roads and bridges.
Popular Bridges Across Major Routes In Lgos
Let mention some of the bridges across these major roads.
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Ibrahim Babangida Bridge
Also known as the Third mainland bridge, was constructed by Julius Berger plc in 1990. This bridge connects the Lagos island to the mainland across Lagos lagoon.
The idea behind the construction of this road was to curb the congestion on other roads, Eko and Carter bridge, leading to the Lagos seaports.
There are three bridges on Lagos island, and this is the longest.
Its length is 11.8 km starting from Oworonshoki to Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.
The bridge is marked by eight lanes, four on its left and right. Midway, it leads to Herbert Macaulay Yaba. The bridge has undergone renovation over three times and was temporarily closed during this period.
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Eko Bridge
It was constructed in 1965 by Julius Berger and has been a route for vehicles going into the Island from Apapa and Surulere. This is the shortest bridge connecting the mainland to the Island.
It starts from Ijora and ends at Apongbon.
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Carter Bridge
It was named after Sir Thomas Carter, this was the first bridge constructed by the colonial government in 1901. Its starting point is from Iddo on the mainland to Idumota on the island. It was however rebuilt in the late 70s.
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Lagos-Ikoyi Bridge
The bridge serves as a link from Lekki to Ikoyi. It was commissioned in 2013 by Governor Fashola, former governor of Lagos, and constructed by Julius Berger. It is 1.36 km long.
These are the major roads in Lagos State, Nigeria.