Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the Opebi-Ojota link bridge would be ready for use before Christmas.

Sanwo-Olu stated this, on Sunday, when he paid an inspection visit to Salau, Lato the bridge to find out what is delaying the completion of works after having earlier promised that the bridge would be in use by September.

“This bridge was completed earlier in the year, and at one of the media gatherings, I did mention, based on the work plan that I was told, that it would be ready for use by the end of September. This is the end of October, and we haven’t completed it. So, as a responsible governor, I have to come and find out: what is the delay?

“This is what we conceived to put together an architectural masterpiece on this Opebi Bridge. And what is the architectural masterpiece? To replicate what this area has been known for, which is the cane market. So, we went with an elaborate design of steel drawings that will replicate, four hands of cane—weaving of canes, right? And so you all know this place as Odo-iya alaro, and we also wanted to bring back the historic nature of this place so that we don’t lose our culture, we don’t lose the history, and we’ll remember what and how we got to where we are. So, just for the benefit of people that don’t know, that was how this design came about.

“But you know, engineering is about innovation. It’s about ensuring that you are designing what no other person has designed, and you are creating something that no other person has created. So, this is a site in which we are installing over 300 tons of steel at heights as up to 25 meters. You can see some of the welders up there like they are in a 10-story building, right? Each of the fingers has four components.

And you can see that three have been fully completed, and they are trying to hinge on it, and the fourth one, which is behind you, will also start.”

The governor was excited that the work is almost 80 per cent completed and so they will need a few more days to be able to put the fourth one.

“Thereafter, they’re going to even put an LED screen and the colours of Lagos are going to come up at the end of the day to make it truly, really an iconic piece that will depict what Lagos stands for, and will be one of the landmark infrastructure in Lagos again.”