FG To Shutdown Third Mainland Bridge For Repairs
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Adedamola Kuti who revealed this said consultations were ongoing for the closure of Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos for repairs.
According to him, the ministry of works would hold a meeting with stakeholders today (Wednesday) to discuss how to manage traffic during the repairs on the bridge which connects the mainland part of Nigeria’s commercial capital to the Island, where many corporate organisations have their head office.
According to Kuti, the bridge may be “shut it by 12 midnight on Thursday and carry out tests and some repairs and open it to traffic by midnight on Sunday.’’
Although he did not specify the exact date the bridge would be closed to traffic or how long the repairs would last, it is believed that the repair work may commence soon.
He said stakeholders attending the meeting to discuss the repairs include traffic regulatory agencies, transport unions, truck owners and drivers’ unions, law enforcement agents, among others.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had in May approved N18.874 billion for the repair and maintenance works on the bridge.
The contract was awarded to the Italian construction firm, Borini Prono, which originally constructed the bridge.
“The project has taken off already and in carrying out the work, we may at certain times be shutting down the bridge for maintenance”, Kuti noted.
“At the moment we may begin with tests on the bridge, so, we may shut it by 12 midnight on Thursday and carry out tests and some repairs and open it to traffic by midnight on Sunday.”
Kuti added that six other damaged bridges across the state were already undergoing maintenance and rehabilitation.
He explained that some tests had been carried out on the Otedola Bridge, whose surface was recently burnt during a tanker fire, assuring that the tests revealed that the bridge was safe for use.
