Julius Berger plc, the company that has been contracted to reconstruct the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, has started with preliminary work on the project, Business Day reports.

The firm has commenced with soil tests on the road and actual construction work is expected to start by September this year.

The Lagos State Government, last month, released N10 billion (US$67 million) to Julius Berger as a mobilisation fee for the first phase of the project.

The project would see the current four lane road upgraded to ten lanes. A light rail and BRT bus system will also be incorporated into the project.

The total cost of the expansion has been estimated at N220 billion ($1.4 billion).