Dipo Olowookere
The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has allayed fears of motorists in Lagos on the safety of the popular Third Mainland Bridge.
Last week, a video of a part of the bridge shaking went viral, which made many to question the safety of the facility.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry said the expansion joint shown in a Facebook video clip last week was one of those slated for change during repairs to commence soon.
“It is still functioning and our engineers and consultants have advised that it does not pose any structural danger to the bridge and it is safe to use,” the statement said.
In August 2018, the Nigerian government shut down the Third Mainland Bridge for a 3-day Investigative Maintenance.
Tests done on the expansion joints then, called static and dynamic load tests, were to check functionality and a number of expansion joints were identified for replacement then.
More recently, in March this year, underwater confirmatory tests preceding the repair works to be done on the bridge were carried out on the piles to determine if there is further deterioration or not on the piles from that done in 2013.
However, all the tests done preparatory to closure of the bridge to commence comprehensive maintenance works indicated that the integrity of the bridge was intact.
“Therefore the Third Mainland Bridge is safe for use, and people should desist from spreading or sharing false information about the bridge on social media platforms,” the Ministry warned.
It said the expansion joints to be replaced are part of a regular bridge maintenance programme that has been neglected for decades which the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is now addressing frontally on many bridges nationwide.
“Such maintenance works include resurfacing of the Bridge, along with several others, which this administration is also undertaking as the bridge users will attest to a better driving surface,” it added.
