The Federal Ministry of Works has commenced palliative repairs on the Oke-Afa-Isolo Bridge in the Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, with a section of the bridge closed to traffic to facilitate the work.

The closure of the Isolo-Ikotun section has, however, led to increased transport fares as commercial transport operators have adjusted their routes in response to the traffic restrictions.

The repair work comes amid growing concerns over the deteriorating condition of the bridge, with residents and engineers warning that the structure could pose a major danger if urgent and comprehensive rehabilitation is not undertaken by the Federal and Lagos State governments.

The bridge, which is a critical link between Oshodi-Isolo and Ejigbo, connects several densely populated communities, including Isolo, Jakande, Oke-Afa and Ikotun.

Residents said years of neglect, compounded by the daily movement of heavy-duty trucks, had left the more than 35-year-old structure in a severely deteriorated condition.

For months, community members have raised concerns over the state of the bridge, alleging that it has received little or no major maintenance since it was constructed more than three decades ago.

Despite its deteriorating condition, the bridge remains heavily used by motorists, commercial buses, motorcycles and trucks on a daily basis.

Every passage of a heavy-duty vehicle sends noticeable vibrations through the structure, while the ageing joints groan under the pressure.

Weeds have also grown through cracks on sections of the bridge deck, while the underside shows visible signs of deterioration, including rusting reinforcement bars, cracked concrete and ageing support pillars.

The guard rails have become unstable in several sections, with exposed iron rods protruding from parts of the bridge deck.

Some sections of the bridge have also been turned into illegal dumpsites, raising additional environmental and public health concerns.

Speaking with The Guardian, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, confirmed that the ministry had commenced repairs on the bridge.

“The bridge has failed, so it needs to be repaired. We have to divide it into two. We will move to the other side when we are done with one section,” Dare said.

To ease the impact of the closure and manage traffic around the construction area, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been deployed to the area.