The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, has said that the repairs on the third mainland bridge, which was recently announced, are necessary in order to prevent a collapse of the bridge.
There is no going back in the proposed plan to shut the third mainland bridge for a period of six months beginning from July 24, the ministry said.
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Mr Olukayode Popoola, the Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works, while speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, said that the bridge was last rehabilitated in 2012, stressing that it is important repairs are carried out now to avoid a collapse of the ever-busy bridge.
Popoola stated:
We don’t want the bridge to collapse. We want to replace worn out components and joints. The bridge will be partially closed and there will be diversion of traffic from midnight to 1pm every morning for movement from Oworonsoki to Lagos Island only on the Lagos Island bound lane while from 1pm to midnight, it will be Lagos Island to Oworonsoki traffic only on the Lagos Island bound lane.
This will be in place for three months for the repairs of the Oworonsoki bound lane.
Motorists are advised to also ply the alternative routes of Carter Bridge through Iddo to Oyingbo to join Adekunle ramp inward Oworonsoki, or from Ijora through Western Avenue to Ikorodu Road.
According to the ministry, the repairs on the bridge is expected to last for about six months.
Meanwhile, Popoola said, however, that traffic management plans will be rolled out for seamless execution during the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge maintenance scheduled to last for six months.
Popoola and the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye made this known during the media briefing held at the state secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.