Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Olukayode Popoola, announced on Sunday that the Lagos state government and Federal government will commence works on opening alternative routes due to the traffic congestion that will be caused by the closure of the 3rd mainland bridge for repairs.
Backstory:
The Nigerian government announced that the bridge will be close for repairs last week. The bridge was last closed for repairs in august 2018 for 3 days. Closing the bridge would put pressure on Lagos traffic which will need the already alternative routes need fixing before the Lagos economy returns fully to pre-pandemic levels.
Mr. Popoola added that the transport stakeholders in Lagos jointly agreed to fix alternative routes to enable less traffic congestion on Lagos state roads. He said that the efforts are being made to repair alternative routes.
He also added that the Nigerian Government has contacted Messrs Borini Porini, to fill up potholes at the Iddo-Oyingbo Road, a task that has been completed.
“We also cleared the drains there after our meeting with stakeholders on July 11th,” he said.
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He mentioned that Chinese contractors, CCECC commenced repairing the Independence Tunnel in Ikorodu last week and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) commenced operations rehabilitating the drainages at Ijora Olopa.
The controller explained that the Lagos State Government agreed to fix bad portions around the Iganmu Bridge adding that, its public works agency was also fixing some other roads.
He added that a meeting with the Lagos State government on Wednesday ended with a promise to repair infrastructure at the Iganmu Bridge. Citing that works have started for repairs with the Lagos State Public Works Corporation.
The third mainland bridge, constructed in 1990, was the longest bridge in Africa at its time until the October 6th Bridge was commissioned in Egypt in 1996. It is also the longest of all the bridges that link Lagos mainland with the Island.