First Phase Of Third Mainland Bridge Closure Commences

Ugo Chinedu

4 years ago

On the midnight of Friday, July 24, 2020, the federal government partially close the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State, to enable the commencement of rehabilitation work on the transportation facility and to avoid its collapse. The decision of the government was informed by the need to replace damaged bars, hydro-demolition of non-firm parts of the bridge, and lifting two of the bridge’s spans. Other repairs needed to be carried out on the bridge include anti-rust treatment of exposed bars, replacing 14 damaged expansion joints, and some auxiliary works that will ensure the busiest bridge in Nigeria become safer for commuters. With work going on, total traffic of 132,702 vehicles per day is expected to heavily impact movement around the city and will last from July 24, 2020, to January 2021. Also, the federal government has disclosed that road traffic managers will be deployed to control the chaos that will follow.

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The first phase will see the total closure of the Adeniji Inward Oworonshoki lane from July 24 to October 24, 2020. For this duration, traffic will be allowed to flow from Oworonshoki to Adeniji in the morning from 11:55 pm-11:55 am, and in the afternoon from Adeniji to Oworonshoki by 11:55 am to 11:55 pm. Commenting on the partial closure of the bridge, Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, stated that the maintenance of the bridge would be carried out on a length of 3.5 kilometres out of the total 11.8 kilometres. The minister went further to note that it is imperative to repair the bridge owing to some parts that are failing and damaged and that the government cannot afford to rebuild the bridge at this moment if it is allowed to collapse. He also noted that the bridge which serves as a gateway between Lagos Island and Mainland was among facilities that have been designated for maintenance after the nationwide assessment of 37 bridges. Noting that the closure will cause hardship to commuters used to ply the route, Fashola advised Nigerians to exercise patience as the partial closure is the only means that can be used to maintain the bridge.

The construction of the bridge spanned three decades and we cannot afford to rebuild it if we allow it to totally collapse. Infrastructure must be maintained. After the work is done, we will have a better driving experience on the bridge. -Babatunde Fashola

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Discussing on the government’s massive rehabilitation projects on bridges nationwide, Fashola revealed that N277 billion will be needed to carry it out. The Director, Highway Bridges and Design, Mr Emmanuel Adeoye further disclosed that maintenance work on the Third Mainland Bridge would be directed by engineers involved as alternative routes have been provided for the duration of six months which the maintenance is supposed to last. Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), also stated that 250 personnel would be deployed to ensure safety and control of traffic. Alternative roads announced by the government to help ease the hardship associated with the closure include: Iddo inwards Carter Bridge Market road inwards Herbert Macaulay road Herbert Macaulay road by Abeokuta Street Herbert Macaulay by Cemetery Apapa road inwards Oyingbo Source: ThisDay Featured image source: This Day Live

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