FG reopens Eko, Marine bridges tomorrow

The federal government yesterday announced that the Eko and
Marine bridges in Lagos would be open to the public from Monday
following the conclusion of urgent repair works on the
facilities.

A statement by the Director, Press and Publicity, Federal
Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs Boade Akinola, quoted the
Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, as giving the
directive for the opening of the bridges, having been satisfied
with their fitness for use by commuters.

The approval for the reopening of the completed first phase of
repairs on the bridges by midnight on Sunday, October 18, the
statement said, was sequel to the report by the contractor handling
the projects, Messrs Buildwell Plant & Equipment Industries
Limited, that the repair works had been completed.

Fashola thanked the people of Lagos State for their patience,
understanding and cooperation while the affected sections of the
bridges were closed.
He directed that members of the public should be informed of any
restrictions to traffic during work on the second phase of the
project.

The minister added that while the completed section of the Eko
Bridge (Lagos Island bound) should be reopened to traffic, work
should commence immediately on the Alaka bound side of the
project.
Explaining the next phase of repair works on the bridges, the
Director, Highways (Bridges and Designs) in the ministry, Mr.
Emmanuel Adeoye, said work was taking off without the need for
either partial or complete closure of the bridges.

He added, however, that the public would be informed should any
form of blockade become necessary.
The 1,350-metre Eko Bridge, built in phases between 1965 and 1975,
links Lagos Island to the Mainland. It was closed to traffic in
March this year in order to replace faulty joints and bearings.
The ministry stressed that as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown,
actual repair works commenced in the first week of June.

The statement said, “Work commenced in May on the first of the
three phases in which repair works on the Marine Bridge was
divided. The repairs on the bridge is part of a network of complex
bridges with several loops taking traffic in and out of the Apapa
area of Lagos.

“It included jacketing and skin repairs of the piers, lifting
the bridge section deck in order to change the electrometric
bearing, milling and placing a new wearing course of asphalt, among
others.”
The statement added that the work on the Eko and Marine bridges was
part of an on-going federal government bridge maintenance
programme. It said the programme involved the repair and
rehabilitation of over 37 bridges nationwide, adding that a
substantial number has been completed while others are at different
stages of completion.

The federal government yesterday announced that the Eko and
Marine bridges in Lagos would be open to the public from Monday
following the conclusion of urgent repair works on the
facilities.

A statement by the Director, Press and Publicity, Federal
Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs Boade Akinola, quoted the
Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, as giving the
directive for the opening of the bridges, having been satisfied
with their fitness for use by commuters.

The approval for the reopening of the completed first phase of
repairs on the bridges by midnight on Sunday, October 18, the
statement said, was sequel to the report by the contractor handling
the projects, Messrs Buildwell Plant & Equipment Industries
Limited, that the repair works had been completed.

Fashola thanked the people of Lagos State for their patience,
understanding and cooperation while the affected sections of the
bridges were closed.
He directed that members of the public should be informed of any
restrictions to traffic during work on the second phase of the
project.

The minister added that while the completed section of the Eko
Bridge (Lagos Island bound) should be reopened to traffic, work
should commence immediately on the Alaka bound side of the
project.
Explaining the next phase of repair works on the bridges, the
Director, Highways (Bridges and Designs) in the ministry, Mr.
Emmanuel Adeoye, said work was taking off without the need for
either partial or complete closure of the bridges.

He added, however, that the public would be informed should any
form of blockade become necessary.
The 1,350-metre Eko Bridge, built in phases between 1965 and 1975,
links Lagos Island to the Mainland. It was closed to traffic in
March this year in order to replace faulty joints and bearings.
The ministry stressed that as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown,
actual repair works commenced in the first week of June.

The statement said, “Work commenced in May on the first of the
three phases in which repair works on the Marine Bridge was
divided. The repairs on the bridge is part of a network of complex
bridges with several loops taking traffic in and out of the Apapa
area of Lagos.

“It included jacketing and skin repairs of the piers, lifting
the bridge section deck in order to change the electrometric
bearing, milling and placing a new wearing course of asphalt, among
others.”
The statement added that the work on the Eko and Marine bridges was
part of an on-going federal government bridge maintenance
programme. It said the programme involved the repair and
rehabilitation of over 37 bridges nationwide, adding that a
substantial number has been completed while others are at different
stages of completion.