20 Things To Know About The Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge

1. The Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge connects the Phase 1 area, of Lekki with the Ikoyi axis of Lagos.
2. The Bridge spans a length of 1.36 km.
3. The Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge. It is the first of its kind cable-stayed pylon bridge in Nigeria. A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge in which the weight of the deck is supported by a number of cables running directly to one or more towers.
4. The Bridge has a Height pylon of 50m; Span of 1357 m and 37 piers.
   

   Photo Credit: www.peri.com

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5. Lagos State Governor, Raji Fashola awarded the contract for the construction of the Bridge to Messrs Julius Berger on March 13, 2009, while work started on the site on May 11, 2009.
6. The bridge was constructed by Julius Berger Nigeria, though the field service was contracted to PERI Frankfurt (Export Division Nigeria) and PERI Weissenhorn, Germany.
7. The then Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola commissioned the bridge on Democracy day (29th of May 2013) and the commemoration of his sixth year administration in Lagos.
8. The Bridge was officially opened to the public on June 1, 2013.
9. The bridge has a 9-metre headroom above water level in order to allow for the flow of maritime traffic.
10. The bridge is a toll bridge.
11. The tollgate is located at the Lekki end of the bridge.
12. At inception, the categories of toll paid the bridge are: Class 1: Saloon cars (N250), Class 11: Mini-vans, SUVs and light pick-up trucks (N300), Class 111: Non-commercial buses with maximum seating capacity of 26 person and Class 1V: Motorcycles with 200CC capacity and above (N100).
13. On Thursday, February 1, 2018, the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge commenced a new price regime. Class 1: Saloon cars (N N300), Class 11: Mini-vans, SUVs and light pick-up trucks (N400), heavy duty trucks/buses with two or more heavy axles will attract N1,000; Motorcycles with 200CC capacity and above (N200), etc.
14. Commercial vehicles (Okada, Keke Marwa, Danfo and vehicles with a total seating capacity exceeding 26) are restricted from using the bridge. Also restricted from using the bridge are heavy-duty trucks and articulated trucks.

Photo Credit: Daily Media

15. The bridge also serves as a recreational facility. Fitness enthusiast who reside within the Lekki phase 1 and Ikoyi axis use the wide curbs of the bridge for jogging and running. Even Mark Zuckerberg jogged on this bridge when he visited Nigeria.

16. Tolling at the Bridge has been plagued with controversies. For instance, some Lagosians believe that since the bridge was built with public funds, its use should be available at no cost. However, the Lagos State government argues that the collection of tolls is not only required to maintain the bridge but also to generate funds for building other bridges to link parts of Lagos.

17. The Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge provides an alternative route in order to escape the Lekki and Ozumba Mbadiwe traffic gridlocks.

18. The waterway above which the bridge is built is owned and controlled by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

19. During the commissioning, Gov. Fashola paid glowing tributes to late President Musa Yar’Adua for making the project a reality. Fashola referred to the late President as “the first builder of the bridge”.

20. The Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge was built at a cost of N29Billion.

Photo Credit: Adedotun Ajibade

• See Related Post: Cash Payments At Lekki-Ikoyi Toll Gate Now ₦1,000