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15 Things To Know About Carter Bridge In Lagos
- Carter Bridge was first constructed in 1901.
- It was the only bridge connecting the mainland and Lagos Island.
- Currently, Carter Bridge is one of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland. The others are Third Mainland and Eko bridges.
- The bridge starts from Iddo on the mainland and ends at Idumota area of Lagos Island.
- The bridge was named after Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter, a former Governor of the Colony of Lagos.
- The bridge was expanded, upgraded and commissioned by the British colonial government on July 1958.
- The construction firm, Borini Prono Nigeria Ltd., constructed the Carter Bridge.
- After independence, the bridge was dismantled, redesigned and rebuilt during late 1970s. The construction method used requires that the beams have hollows.
- The Alaka-Ijora flyover, on the Iddo end of the span was completed in 1973.
- The parking of vehicles on the bridge has resulted in both severe road congestion in addition to contributing to its rapid deterioration.
- In 2003, the Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers noted that the parking of vehicles along the span may result in collapse if left unaddressed.
- In April 2006, the Lagos State Transport Commissioner announced that all commercial vehicles would be banned from entering Lagos Island by way of the Carter Bridge to keep buses and other vehicles from parking on the bridge.
- Also in 2006, the Lagos State government instituted a ₦ 50,000 fine for persons parking their vehicles along the span.
- In addition to congestion on the bridge, Carter was perceived as unsafe at night due to the lack of streetlights. In July 2013, Governor Fashola of Lagos State commissioned streetlights on Carter Bridge powered by an Independent Power Project. The project was conceptualized, designed and completed by the State’s Electricity Board (www.lseb.gov.ng) using local components and technicians.
- The Carter Bridge is an 0.53 km bridge.
