Update
Questions Arise As FG Plans To Shut Down Third Mainland Bridge For 6 Months Maintenance
Third Mainland Bridge
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to embark on a 6 months maintenance for the third mainland bridge.
In a statement by Olukayode Popoola, the Lagos State federal controller of works, proper preparations are put in place to begin another phase of renovations on the 11.8km bridge.
The third mainland bridge, which was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996, is one of the three bridges that links the Lagos Island to the Mainland.
Popoola revealed that the work is set to begin with the outward mainland section of the bridge. He also assured that heavy traffic during this period would be avoided as the ministry is working with relevant agencies to ensure that.
It is stated that the closure of the bridge will commence from July 24th for the next 6 months with both lanes closed one after the other for 3 months each.
This will not be the first time the bridge is been closed as in 2006 commuters had reported noticeable vibrations indicating that urgent attention was required.
For this reason, repairs where carried on parts of the bridge at intervals and as at January 2013, works were completed.
A 2002 traffic report on the bridge indicated that the number of vehicles in both directions recorded in a total of 12 hours was 180,902. This figure might have been doubled or even tripled in the past 18 years. With this bridge closed for the next six months, and that amount of vehicles forced to locate other routes within Lagos State, how do you think the traffic in the state would be?
With another phase of repairs, Nigerians can’t help but wonder
1. Why did the federal government decide to do this renovations during the rainy season?
2. Why wasn’t this done during the first phase of the total lock down as a result of the Coronavirus?
3. What happens to those working on the Island and leaving in the Mainland?
4. What would be the effects of this development to the transportation sector?
Tell us what you think below in the comment section.
