Third Mainland Bridge Closure: FG, LASG Release Traffic Plans, Alternative Routes

Last week, the Federal Government announced a planned repair work on the Third-Mainland Bridge. Traffic plans

The project is expected to last for six months. It has been scheduled to commence on July 24th and ends January 24th, 2021.

The Federal and Lagos State Governments have released traffic management plans for residents of the state. In the plan include alternative routes to ensure seamless execution of the project.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukayode Popoola announced the traffic plans on Tuesday at a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja. Also in attendance was the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederick Oladehinde.

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Popoola disclosed that the bridge would be partially closed. He also said that there would be a diversion of traffic while repairs are ongoing.  The repair work would be done in two phases to prevent untold hardship on residents in Lagos.

The controller of works stated that the Oworonshoki bound carriageway would be the first to be shut to traffic during first three months of the repair works.

Popoola said beginning July 24, the bridge would be closed between 12 am to 1 pm from the Lagos Island end of the bridge inward Oworoshonki, while motorists coming from Lagos Mainland to Island would be allowed to use the other side of the bridge.

He added between the hours of 1 pm and 12 am, the bridge would also be closed from Oworonshoki end inward Lagos Island while the other side of the bridge would be opened to motorists coming from Island to Mainland and that this would go on for an initial three months before a reversal.

“The last time this bridge was repaired was 2012 and that is eight years. The federal government wants to replace the bearings and the expansion joints. We know the partial closure will bring discomfort but this is the right thing to do. We do not want the bridge to collapse. The contract was awarded in 2018 but an order was placed for the components because they are not produced in Nigeria,” Popoola said.

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On the alternative routes, Olukayode said motorists could use the Ido-Oyingbo route passing through Carter bridge, Ijora through Western Avenue.

Other routes are Ozumba Mbadiwe through Ahmadu Bello Way. Also, Bonny Camp to Zone Police Command to Eko Bridge, and Funsho Williams Avenue.

The Third-Mainland Bridge is one of the longest in the continent.