Ahead of the planned partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge, the Federal and Lagos State Governments have released a traffic management plan to enable road users to navigate their ways.
Kayode Popoola, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, at a joint media briefing said that the routine maintenance of the bridge will be carried out from July 24 to January 24, 2021.
Popoola said the repairs will be done in two phases. He said the first phase of the diversion will be on the Oworonshoki-bound lane of the bridge of which repairs will last for three months.
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He said within that period, motorists will use the Lagos Island-bound lane and the alternative routes provided.
According to the federal controller, the first phase will be for morning traffic from 12 am to 1 pm from Oworonshoki to Lagos Island on the Lagos Island-bound lane.
The afternoon traffic from 1 pm to midnight will take the Lagos Island to Oworonshoki traffic on the Lagos Island-bound carriageway, Popoola said.
He explained that the second phase of the diversion for the repairs of the Lagos Island-bound lane of the Third Mainland Bridge will be for morning traffic from 12 am to 1 pm from Oworonsoki to Lagos Island on the Oworonsoki-bound lane.
Meanwhile, afternoon traffic from 1 pm to 12 am will be from Lagos Island to Oworonsoki on the Oworonsoki-bound lane.
He said:
This will be in place for three months for repairs of the Oworonshoki bound lane.
Motorists are advised to also ply these alternative routes: First, from Carter Bridge through Iddo through Oyingbo to join Adekunle ramp inward Oworonsoki. Secondly, from Ijora Olopa through Western Avenue to Ikorodu Road.
Traffic control will be in place to direct and help traffic movement. We regret the inconveniences this might cause the motorists.”
On his part, Fredrick Oladeinde, the Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, said priority will be given to those driving from Mainland to the Island in the morning and afternoon, to use the Third Mainland Bridge, while those driving against traffic will use the alternative routes.
Oladeinde assured motorists that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will work with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in all the alternative routes to ensure a smooth journey during the partial closure.
To reduce the number of vehicles on the road during the partial closure of the bridge, however, he advised that motorists who do not have a genuine reason to be on the road should stay at home.
He also said the Vehicle Inspection Service had started checking trucks for roadworthiness and those not fit will be confiscated.