Mixed feelings as 3rd Mainland Bridge repairs begin

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

LAGOS — As the Federal Government commenced the repair of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State, yesterday, motorists and residents expressed fear of pending chaotic traffic situation by today, even as traffic situation was light along diversion routes.

It would be recalled that repairs on the bridge was initially scheduled to commence last Sunday, but postponed over some logistic reasons.

The first phase of the repair was carried out between August and September 2008, and lasted for four months, which led to the planning and execution of the second phase, which commenced yesterday.

Third mainland bridge under construction yesterday

When Vanguard monitored some of the diversion routes in the city, the right side of the bridge was closed as at 11 a.m. by a joint team of the federal and state government agencies at the Oworonshoki end of the bridge where motorists are expected to divert inward Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

Meantime, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr kayode Opeifa, yesterday, said that the repair of the bridge was a routine one aimed at safeguarding the transport infrastructure.

Opeifa said the repairs would last four months.

He noted that similar repairs were carried out on the bridge in 2008 and urged members of the public to bear with the government.

He said: “We know that during major repairs of this magnitude, there would be mixed feelings; there would be inconvenient to some. This repair work is supposed to be on a regular basis, the public should be used to it.

Meantime, Lagos State traffic officials, security agents, engineers from Borino Prono Construction Company handling the repairs, commenced the diversion of traffic from the Oworoshoki axis of the bridge  by 11.30 a.m. yesterday.

Motorists going to Lagos Island were diverted to Oworoshoki-Ikorodu road, en-route Adekunle area, to the Island.

Some commuters at the  Iyana-Oworo bus-stop, who were waiting for public transport at the entrance of the bridge, were stranded as they did not know about the diversion, it was observed.

Mrs Edith Mamah, a housewife going to Obalende— after church service— said she was surprised that there were no vehicles plying the road from the Oworonshoki end.

Mamah said she spent over 30 minutes at the bus stop before they were informed about the diversion.

Another commuter, Bayo Adesanya, said it would be difficult for residents of Oworonshoki, a suburb of Lagos, to go to Lagos Island.

Traffic was low on the axis coming from the mainland, while officials of the police, Federal Road Safety Corps, and  Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, were seen managing the situation.