Third Mainland Bridge’ll Be Totally Reopened “This Weekend’’ – Fashola

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said on
Thursday that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos undergoing
repairs, would be totally reopened to traffic ‘’this weekend”.

Fashola, who gave the assurance during a radio phone-in
programme, did not specify which day of the weekend to expect the
reopening.

“I can tell you now that this weekend, it will be opened
definitely; my directors are still in Lagos; the major works have
now been finished, so let me say that again by way of
information.

“Definitely this weekend it will be reopened. I will announce
the date toward Friday and the reason why I am holding back the
exact date is that we are government.

“Any time we say something, people must reliably be able to plan
their lives around what we say, ’’ he said.

He said that lane markings and finishing touches would be done
within the next 48 to 72 hours, adding the total shutdown of the
bridge to happen midnight on Friday would be the last before the
total reopening.

He thanked Lagos residents for their patience and understanding,
assuring that the repairs had been completed and the contractor
would soon pull out of site.

“The major works have now been finished, the piles, all the
joints, all the bearings, everything is done. The last miles now
are the works which were not in the contract but we insisted must
be done.

“We are asphalting some of the places on the pavement that have
been affected by erosion; some of the lane markings have worn away
so we want to do that,’’ he said.

Fashola explained some of the repairs being concluded were not
visible because they were under water, adding that some diversion
angles created had to be rebuilt within 48 to 72 hours.

The Minister said that some time was lost on the project during
the #EndSARS protests in Lagos, adding the bridge was now safer and
better for use, assuring motorists of smooth driving
experience.

He urged Nigerians to visit the ministry’s twitter handle to get
details of construction activities carried out so far on the
bridge.

The Third Mainland Bridge, which was going through a series of
repairs, was partially shut on July 24, 2020 for another round of
rehabilitation.

The repairs, expected to last six months, were extended from
January to February because of the #EndSARS protests.

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 was on-going between Adeniji Adele 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 linking
Lagos Island and 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 the longest in Africa; until
1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo was completed. (NAN)

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said on
Thursday that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos undergoing
repairs, would be totally reopened to traffic ‘’this weekend”.

Fashola, who gave the assurance during a radio phone-in
programme, did not specify which day of the weekend to expect the
reopening.

“I can tell you now that this weekend, it will be opened
definitely; my directors are still in Lagos; the major works have
now been finished, so let me say that again by way of
information.

“Definitely this weekend it will be reopened. I will announce
the date toward Friday and the reason why I am holding back the
exact date is that we are government.

“Any time we say something, people must reliably be able to plan
their lives around what we say, ’’ he said.

He said that lane markings and finishing touches would be done
within the next 48 to 72 hours, adding the total shutdown of the
bridge to happen midnight on Friday would be the last before the
total reopening.

He thanked Lagos residents for their patience and understanding,
assuring that the repairs had been completed and the contractor
would soon pull out of site.

“The major works have now been finished, the piles, all the
joints, all the bearings, everything is done. The last miles now
are the works which were not in the contract but we insisted must
be done.

“We are asphalting some of the places on the pavement that have
been affected by erosion; some of the lane markings have worn away
so we want to do that,’’ he said.

Fashola explained some of the repairs being concluded were not
visible because they were under water, adding that some diversion
angles created had to be rebuilt within 48 to 72 hours.

The Minister said that some time was lost on the project during
the #EndSARS protests in Lagos, adding the bridge was now safer and
better for use, assuring motorists of smooth driving
experience.

He urged Nigerians to visit the ministry’s twitter handle to get
details of construction activities carried out so far on the
bridge.

The Third Mainland Bridge, which was going through a series of
repairs, was partially shut on July 24, 2020 for another round of
rehabilitation.

The repairs, expected to last six months, were extended from
January to February because of the #EndSARS protests.

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 was on-going between Adeniji Adele 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 linking
Lagos Island and 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 the longest in Africa; until
1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo was completed. (NAN)