Repair works on Third Mainland Bridge starts Saturday

Repair works on Third Mainland Bridge phase 2 and additional works for the repair of eight faulty joints will commence on Saturday July 7, 2012 while traffic diversion to alternative routes within the Lagos metropolis will start on Sunday July 8, 2012.

Works on the bridge had earlier been scheduled to start on Sunday July 1, 2012 but later shifted to enable concrete arrangements be put in place for effective management and control of traffic.

Bashir Yuguda, Minister of State for Works who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Lagos said the repair which will last four months was essential because of the importance the Federal Government attaches to the bridge.

According to him, “This project will last for four months so we are asking for support, understanding and the corporation of all Nigerians. This is the most important bridge that we have not only in Nigeria but in Africa, and the president attaches a lot of importance to the bridge”

Yuguda who said that the bridge will be closed partially assured that there will be a lot of traffic management, adding that the repair will commence from the Lagos bound Ebute-Metta interchange to Adeniji Adele, while the second phase which is on the Oworosoki bound will commence after this time.

He pointed out that a lot of efforts have been put into this project to reduce the pressure on motorists and called on Nigerians to obey the instruction from the federal and Lagos State governments.

The minister insisted that the contractor must deliver on the project because of the importance attached to it informing that they have been fully mobilised and all materials needed for the project are on ground.

On his part, Femi Hamzat, Lagos State commissioner for Works and Infrastructure stressed the importance of the repair, noting that the bridge needed to be maintained in order to sustain its lifespan. “This is needed and we have to do it.

In terms of preparation, Kayode Opeifa, the state commissioner of Transportation, explained the alternative routes available to motorists.

“We have done it before in 2008 but now it will be better because the options are better with the construction of the other routes. The options are better as long as we drive safely and in accordance with traffic rules,” he said. He noted that the availability of water transportation in the state will also help in moving commuters easily.

According to a communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders meeting, alternative routes to Lagos and Victoria Island include; Ikorodu Road- Yaba- Oyingbo-Iddo-Lagos Island; Ikorodu Road-Western Avenue-Lagos Island; Agege motor Road-Oshodi-Apapa-Lagos Island/ Victoria and Apapa-Oshodi Expressway-mile 12-Orile-Lagos Island/ Victoria.