FG, Lagos identify access routes ahead of Third Mainland Bridge closure

The Federal and Lagos State governments have identified accessible roads to guide motorists and reduce travel time during the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for rehabilitation works scheduled to begin on July 24, 2020.

Also to ease gridlock that could arise from the partial closure, the state government has approved the use of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes for Lagos State Bus Services Ltd to move commuters during the period.

Both governments disclosed these plans yesterday during a joint inspection of alternative routes under rehabilitation toward the planned partial closure of the bridge for repairs.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukayode Popoola, who affirmed the importance of the routes, stated that the outward Lagos Island lane of the bridge would be partially closed to traffic by midnight of July 24, 2020 for the commencement of rehabilitation works.

He said that the ministry would close the Oworonshoki-bound carriageway first for three months and thereafter move to the Island-bound to replicate the repairs.

On the alternative routes, Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, said that priority would be given to people on the Mainland connecting the Island in the morning to use the bridge while those living on the Island would be required to use alternative routes, adding that commuters leaving Lagos Island to the Mainland would also have priority to use the bridge in the evening to reduce congestion.

“If you are living in Victoria Island or Ikoyi, you can use alternative routes such as Eko Bridge or go through Iddo-Carter Bridge. You can now take Herbert Macaulay.

“Other inner roads are also available. You can also go through Adekunle, Glover, and the side roads. Motorists can make use of Costain. We will make efforts to make the roads motorable during this six months,” she said.

She further hinted that the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had given permission for construction works at night in spite of the curfew imposed by the Federal Government to flatten coronavirus curve in the country.

Also, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Fredrick Oladeinde, said that apart from the alternative routes already mapped out, water transportation options were being made viable to give residents additional options.