The Federal Government on Tuesday declared the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos for planned recovery work that will last from July 2020 to January 2021.
The bridge, considered the busiest in the country with a total traffic of 132, 702 vehicles for each day, will be formally shut down to road users by 12 PM on Friday.
Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, told journalists in Abuja that support work will be done on a length of 3.5 km out of the 11.8 km connect.
As indicated by him, the rehabilitation of the bridge became imperative due to failing and damaged portions, adding the government cannot afford to rebuild the bridge if allowed to collapse.
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He said that the Third Mainland connect, which interfaces the Lagos Island with the Lagos Mainland, was among the scaffolds assigned for upkeep after an extensive appraisal of 37 extensions the nation over.
Fashola, while appreciating the hardship the closure of the bridge will bring on Nigerians, noted there was no other way to carry out the maintenance work.
According to him:-
“The construction of the bridge spanned three decades and we cannot afford to rebuild it if we allow it totally collapse.
“Infrastructure must be maintained. After the work is done, we will have a better driving experience on the bridge.”
The Minister additionally uncovered N277 billion will be expected to restore all the 37 extensions the country over.
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Director Highway Bridges and Design, Engineer Emmanuel Adeoye, said the support take a shot at the scaffold incorporate the substitution of harmed bars, hydro-destruction of all non-firm parts and lifting of two of the Bridge Spans.
Others are anti-rust treatment of exposed bars, replacement of 14 damaged expansion joints and other auxiliary works that may be directed by Engineers.
