Users of the ever busy Third. Mainland bridge will have to use alternative routes as the Federal government says it will be shut again for three days between Friday January 29 to Monday 31 for another round of delicate expansion joints replacement.
Federal Controller of Works,Engineer Kayode Popoola made the announcement.
He explained that construction works had reached the stage for casting concrete on additional three expansion joints, hence the need to stop all movements on the bridge that could cause vibrations.
He said that the 72 hours closure was to ensure that the concrete sets properly during the curing process’ to make the rehabilitation works perfect and durable.
He appealed for the understanding of Lagos residents saying that, the Muhammadu Buhari administration was passionate about quality infrastructure delivery and safety of road users.
“Messers Boroni Prono is planning to cast three number expansion joints on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st.
“This will require total closure of Third Mainland bridge from midnight of Friday 29th till midnight of Monday 1st February 2021.
“We are sorry for the inconveniences this may cause Lagosians,”Popoola said.
The Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which is going through series of repairs, had to be partially shut on July 24 for another round of rehabilitation works.
The repair expected to last six months was extended by one month due to the recent #EndSARS protests in Lagos extending the completion date from January 2021 to February.
The construction was initially divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki bound carriageway whose completion dragged to four months.
Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji Ramp and Ebute Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge.
The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland.
The bridge starts from Oworonshoki, which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.
Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged to be the longest in Africa until 1996 when the October 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was completed.
