The Federal Government has reopened the Third Mainland Bridge linking the Lagos Island and mainland. The bridge work carried out on the bridge includes lane markings, new streetlights and CCTV camera installations.
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Minister of Works, David Umahi who declared the bridge open at the Oworonsoki end of the bridge commended all who were affected one way or another by the closure of the bridge for their patience, saying that the pain was for the interest of all.
Federal controller of works, Olukorede Kesha who represented the minister at the reopening event said that though some aspects of the rehabilitation work have not been completed, like the solar lighting of the bridge, the bridge has to be opened while work continued.
Rehabilitation work is about 95 percent completed, Olukorede said. What remains to be done will not disrupt the flow of traffic. The entire repair work will be completed in May 2024 and will be then be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu, he went further to say.
The 11.8-kilometre bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland. The others are the Eko and Carter bridges. It was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge located in Cairo was completed.
Reopening of the bridge is relived For motorists who commute through the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, it was a huge sigh of relieve as the federal government reopened the bridge which had been partially closed in the last 14 weeks. The bridge was closed on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 for a comprehensive repair works.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi announced a three-month maintenance job on the bridge in October 2023.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur