By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Marine Bridge would be closed for three months for emergency repairs, the Lagos State government has disclosed.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, explained in a statement that the action was necessary to maintain the bridge infrastructure, which includes removal and cleaning of the existing expansion joints to prevent further deterioration.
He disclosed that the partial closure of the Marine Bridge, which affects the Apapa outward section, would take effect from Tuesday, March 9 to Monday, June 21, 2021.
The Commissioner urged vehicle owners plying the corridors to be patient and bear with the state government as the measures taken are aimed at providing quality and safe road infrastructure for everyone.
He explained that this appeal became necessary because, during the period of the partial closure, traffic would be diverted to alternative routes as the Apapa inward lane would be divided into two lanes to allow a counter flow of traffic.
However, he stated that to ameliorate the effect of the expected traffic impediment, palliative works have been completed on the alternative routes to ease movement, advising motorists inwards Apapa to make use of Total underneath the bridge to connect Naval Dockyard to Danlami to Leventis corridor and/or to connect Marine Beach by Mobil through Federal Fire Service/Obanikoro to Naggaf/North Avenue to Wharf Road.
Mr Oladeinde urged road users from Ajegunle inwards Iganmu/or Ijora to use Agbo Malu to Tego Barracks to Total, underneath the bridge and ascend Marine Bridge to connect their desired destinations.
The Commissioner assured that personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) would be deployed to alternative routes to manage traffic encumbrances.
The closure of the Marine Bridge connecting Apapa to Lagos Island is coming barely two weeks after the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos was reopened by the federal government after it was shut last year for repairs.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Adedapo Adesanya