The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has appealed to Lagosians for cooperation over the traffic gridlock caused by the closure of the Third Mainand Bridge.
The minister, on Tuesday, kicked off the inspection tour of the Federal Government’s road projects in Lagos State at the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway reconstruction project, then moved to the Third Mainland Bridge which has been partially shut for repairs.
The bridge was shut on Friday last week and will remain shut for the next six months as the repairs continue.
The Federal Controller of Works, Olukayode Popoola, disclosed that a diversion has been created for the contractor handling the repairs to commence work on the outward lane of the island.
Popoola also explained that the inward lane has been left open to enable motorists to ply the road with ease while going about their businesses.
Commuters have, however, already begun to experience increased gridlock on the axis.
In August 2018, the Third Mainland Bridge was shut for a three-day investigative maintenance; an underwater confirmatory test was also carried out in March 2019.
Also in 2019, a viral video indicating an unusual vibration of the bridge raised concerns over the bridge’s safety, but the Federal Government dispelled the rumours insisting that the bridge was structurally fit and poses no danger to users.
Meanwhile, further investigation revealed that the worn-out expansion joints of the cantilever bridge may not be posing an immediate threat to the structure at the time, but consistent use without carrying out the required maintenance work has left the bridge in bad shape.