The Federal Ministry of Works, in collaboration with the Lagos State government, officially flagged off the rehabilitation project for the Third Mainland Bridge, valued at N21.074 billion. The launch ceremony took place in Lagos on Wednesday, attended by the Federal Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and the Deputy Governor of Lagos, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
The comprehensive repairs are set to address previous concerns and enhance the integrity of the bridge. Umahi revealed that the budgeted amount includes the complete replacement of the asphalt on the bridge deck to a standard two inches, aiming to improve the smoothness and safety of motoring on the bridge.
Umahi stated, “This is yet another milestone in the actualization of the renewed hope agenda of divine President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. This, amongst other things, is aimed at the total repositioning of road and bridge infrastructure in Nigeria and to bring succor to road users who have suffered the effects of decayed infrastructure over the years.”
The Minister also announced the Lagos State government’s plan to install spikes on the guard railing of the bridge to prevent suicide attempts. He outlined the timeline for the repair work, with the completion of the Adekunle/Adeniji section ramps expected by December 13, while the maintenance of the main carriageways is scheduled to commence in January 2024.
Umahi clarified that the ongoing rehabilitation work focuses on the superstructure elements of the bridge, with investigations and design of substructure elements to be carried out for future restoration.
Following the bridge project, Umahi and Hamzat visited the starting point of the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The minister revealed plans for a Public-Private Partnership arrangement for the coastal highway, emphasizing its potential to boost interconnectivity, tourism, job creation, and overall infrastructure development.
The Lagos Deputy Governor assured that the Right of Way (RoW) for the coastal highway project had been recovered by the state government. He urged Lagos residents not to engage in physical planning infractions along the project alignment.
The entourage included key officials such as the Director of Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Mr Adedamola Kuti, the Director of Highways, Bridges, and Designs, Mr Omotayo Awosanya, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, and other top directors from the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
