By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has set a new deadline of July 15 to complete repairs and reopen both Eko and Apongbon bridges to traffic in Lagos State.
According to Channels Television, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, told the station on Wednesday in a telephone chat.
Lagosians have always lamented the extra stress and pressure that came with commuting and conducting day-to-day activities following the closure of the bridges in the commercial city.
However, Mrs Kesha appealed for patience and understanding among road users, saying the extension came as some underlying repairs must be completed before reopening to ensure the durability of the infrastructure.
“We had an extensive meeting today, so we all agreed that we will open the two bridges finally mid-July,” the Federal Controller of Works said.
“We are aware of the discomfort the motoring public is going through at the moment, but they should just bear with the Federal Government. We are doing everything possible to ensure that the contractor finishes on or before July 15.”
Apongbon Bridge was affected by fire in March 2022, and efforts for its December completion were stalled by another fire that affected the Ijora Olopa section of the Eko Bridge on November 4.
The delivery date for the Apongbon Bridge was extended to May 2023 because some materials for its repairs were used to start the emergency repair of the Ijora Olopa section.
The 4.1km Eko Bridge links Lagos Island with Mainland and directly links Apongbon on the Island side.
It had been undergoing phased rehabilitation, but the contract for its comprehensive maintenance was awarded in February 2022.
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