Third Mainland Bridge for Another Repairs

By Adedapo Adesanya

Third Mainland Bridge will undergo another phase of repair as traffic arrangements are ongoing, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti has revealed.

Mr Kuti disclosed this in Lagos stating that the results of investigative tests on the bridge were ready and that contractors would move to site at the completion of the traffic management architecture.

“Any moment from now, once I get our traffic plans approved, we may be announcing to the world again that we are now ready to fix Third Mainland Bridge based on investigative tests we had last year.

“Meanwhile, we have already completed the resurfacing, the markings, such that you can now drive on Third Mainland bridge smoothly.

“We are also going to repair some of the piles or pillars carrying the bridge; that is the next phase that we are doing; so work will soon begin on Third Mainland Bridge,’’ he said.

The Controller of Works said that this was part of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration committment to fixing infrastructure in Lagos and was evident in the number of bridges that had been repaired in the state,

“This government has very good plans for bridges. Since I came on board, about a year ago, we have completed maintenance and repair works on Leventis Bridge damaged by fire in 2016 where a whole deck collapsed.

“We have also completely repaired the Ijora-7Up Bridge; Coconut Bridge repair has been completed, the burnt Marine Beach Bridge repair has been completed and, as I speak, maintenance work is ongoing on the Independence Bridge on the Island.” He said.

Mr Kuti also revealed that many more bridges were receiving necessary attention:

“Work is ongoing on the Dorman Long Bridge, you can drive smoothly on it now and all the guard rails and expansion joints are being replaced.

“Work is ongoing on the Ojuelegba Bridge as well as Alaka Bridge,’’ he added.

According to him, although procurement issues affected project delivery, there are enough materials from Alaka Bridge expansion joint works to repair adjoining bridges on the Apapa-Ijora axis.

The controller said he had given instruction to a contractor to move to site to rehabilitate a portion of the Apapa Bridge.

“I have a project on the Alaka Bridge. Work is going on there.

“That Alaka Bridge goes into Iganmu, the contractor has done a lot of work there. They have done the resurfacing; they have milled the old ashphalt and are replacing the expansion joints.

“There is another expansion joint beside it. If you are coming in from Surulere and going to Alaka, the intersection is between Iganmu and Eko Bridge, I gave instruction to fix it.

“Also, at the intersection outwards Apapa and inwards Apapa from Costain area, there is a very bad expansion joint, I just gave instruction to fix it,” Mr Kuti said.