Third Mainland Bridge To Be Shut Down For Christmas

Mr. Olukayode Popoola, in the Federal Controller of Works Lagos,
has lamented the disruptive activities of ‘Area Boys’ who sometimes
open the closed section of the Third Mainland Bridge to traffic to
endanger the safety of motorists.

The controller told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday
that their actions jeopardised the safety of road users, adding
that security had been beefed up to nip the problem in the bud.

“Sometimes where we closed, Area Boys reopened to traffic
especially when they notice law enforcement agents are not
around.

“We had to call the Police, the FRSC to intervene because the
action of the Area Boys delayed construction works for some days
because safety is of importance to everybody.

“We are doing roads for human beings, so we have to be very
careful. We cannot be breaking concrete when someone is driving
past. Supposing some of the element flies and breaks his head,’’ he
queried.

Popoola added that the planned two-day repairs shutdown of the
Third Mainland Bridge had to be postponed because of the buildup to
the Yuletide

He told NAN that construction works had reached the stage for
casting concrete on additional three expansion joints, hence the
need for a total shutdown.

The controller noted that the Federal Government had to postpone
the closure because it was sensitive to the needs of citizens
preparing for the festive season with increased human and vehicular
traffic.

He said that remarkable progress had been made and the next
total closure was shifted till the holiday period to reduce
hardship on road users.

“On the Island-bound lane where we are working now, the
contractor is ready to cast another three expansion joints this
weekend, but because of the festive period that we have a lot of
vehicles on the road.

“We were advised to leave it till next week maybe during the
public holiday where we will do the total closure, then, we will be
able to cast the three expansion joints.

“That will be next week. So, Third Mainland Bridge work is
progressing steadily,’’ he said.

Popoola said that work on the surface of the bridge was over 70
per cent completed, but the entire project was 22 per cent
completed with the inclusion of construction underneath.

He said that efforts were on to ensure the contractor completed
the ongoing replacement of expansion joints on the top of the
bridge before the Feb. 22, 2021 delivery date.

He added that, work could continue under the bridge even after
it is reopened to traffic.

“When we say 22 per cent completion, we are not talking of only
expansion joints, there are other works that is going on under the
bridge included.

“If we are talking of only the surface, it has achieved more
than 70 per cent completion. The contractor is working under the
bridge on the abutment, the Pile Caps and Piers.

“And it is all those works put together that makes us say we
have achieved about 22 per cent completion but if it is only the
surface, we have achieved over 70 per cent,’’ he said.

He explained that the Abutment is where the bridge either starts
or ends, where the bridge abuts all the load.

NAN reports that in between the abutment where there are beams
on both sides are the piers, while the Pile Cap is located
underwater where all the Piers rest for support.

The Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which was going through a
series of repairs, was partially shut down on July 24 for another
round of rehabilitation works.

The repair expected to last six months was extended by one month
due to the recent #EndSARS protests in Lagos extending the
completion date from January 2021 to February.

The construction was initially divided into two phases of three
months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki bound
carriageway whose completion dragged to four months.

Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where
construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji Ramp and Ebute
Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic
diversions on the bridge.

The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the 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.

Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged as the longest in
Africa until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was
completed.

Mr. Olukayode Popoola, in the Federal Controller of Works Lagos,
has lamented the disruptive activities of ‘Area Boys’ who sometimes
open the closed section of the Third Mainland Bridge to traffic to
endanger the safety of motorists.

The controller told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday
that their actions jeopardised the safety of road users, adding
that security had been beefed up to nip the problem in the bud.

“Sometimes where we closed, Area Boys reopened to traffic
especially when they notice law enforcement agents are not
around.

“We had to call the Police, the FRSC to intervene because the
action of the Area Boys delayed construction works for some days
because safety is of importance to everybody.

“We are doing roads for human beings, so we have to be very
careful. We cannot be breaking concrete when someone is driving
past. Supposing some of the element flies and breaks his head,’’ he
queried.

Popoola added that the planned two-day repairs shutdown of the
Third Mainland Bridge had to be postponed because of the buildup to
the Yuletide

He told NAN that construction works had reached the stage for
casting concrete on additional three expansion joints, hence the
need for a total shutdown.

The controller noted that the Federal Government had to postpone
the closure because it was sensitive to the needs of citizens
preparing for the festive season with increased human and vehicular
traffic.

He said that remarkable progress had been made and the next
total closure was shifted till the holiday period to reduce
hardship on road users.

“On the Island-bound lane where we are working now, the
contractor is ready to cast another three expansion joints this
weekend, but because of the festive period that we have a lot of
vehicles on the road.

“We were advised to leave it till next week maybe during the
public holiday where we will do the total closure, then, we will be
able to cast the three expansion joints.

“That will be next week. So, Third Mainland Bridge work is
progressing steadily,’’ he said.

Popoola said that work on the surface of the bridge was over 70
per cent completed, but the entire project was 22 per cent
completed with the inclusion of construction underneath.

He said that efforts were on to ensure the contractor completed
the ongoing replacement of expansion joints on the top of the
bridge before the Feb. 22, 2021 delivery date.

He added that, work could continue under the bridge even after
it is reopened to traffic.

“When we say 22 per cent completion, we are not talking of only
expansion joints, there are other works that is going on under the
bridge included.

“If we are talking of only the surface, it has achieved more
than 70 per cent completion. The contractor is working under the
bridge on the abutment, the Pile Caps and Piers.

“And it is all those works put together that makes us say we
have achieved about 22 per cent completion but if it is only the
surface, we have achieved over 70 per cent,’’ he said.

He explained that the Abutment is where the bridge either starts
or ends, where the bridge abuts all the load.

NAN reports that in between the abutment where there are beams
on both sides are the piers, while the Pile Cap is located
underwater where all the Piers rest for support.

The Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which was going through a
series of repairs, was partially shut down on July 24 for another
round of rehabilitation works.

The repair expected to last six months was extended by one month
due to the recent #EndSARS protests in Lagos extending the
completion date from January 2021 to February.

The construction was initially divided into two phases of three
months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki bound
carriageway whose completion dragged to four months.

Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where
construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji Ramp and Ebute
Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic
diversions on the bridge.

The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the 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.

Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged as the longest in
Africa until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was
completed.