The Federal Government has disclosed that plans had been concluded to begin another phase of repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge after taken delivery of all necessary components needed for the rehabilitation work.
It explained that the plan resumption was part of the government efforts to provide a lasting solution to traffic gridlock bedeviling the state, especially the current raining season in which the roads are prone to floods.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olukayode Popoola, said consultations were on for another phase of repair works to begin bridge as part of measures towards evolving perfect traffic management architecture.
Speaking with newsmen on Monday, Popoola revealed that the next phase of repair works will likely commence on July 24th and that there is high possibility that the road will be closed for users to facilitate swift rehabilitation work.
“We want to do maintenance work on the Third Mainland Bridge very soon. Most likely on the 24th. We may close it from the 24th of July.
“We are still working out the modalities and when we perfect the traffic management plan we will move to site.
“Everything being expected for the repairs of the bridge arrived the country that is why we want to start the repairs now,’’ he said.
The bridge that has gone through a series of rehabilitation works was last shut in August 2018 for a three days investigative maintenance check.
Thereafter some components needed for completion of repairs were sourced abroad because they were not available locally.
The 11.8km Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland.
The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.
It was constructed in 1990 and was the longest in Africa until 1996 when The 6th October Bridge in Cairo was completed.
