⁠Residents, Motorists Commend Quality Of Rehabilitation Works

Months after the Federal Government commenced the repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge, the rehabilitation works ii nearing completion and road users are excited about the level of work done on the bridge.

The Third Mainland Bridge is one of the critical bridges linking mainland of Lagos to the Island. Of the three bridges linking Lagos Island to mainland, it is the most plied aside being the longest in Nigeria.

This is why when there are issues with the bridge; it usually generates a lot of reaction from residents and motorists. The bridge has been partially closed for sometimes now, since November 2023 to allow for repairs and rehabilitation works. Although the job has not been completed, but it is nearing completion as one of the lanes inward Island from mainland has been completed just as the second lane is almost completed.

Aside the total resurfacing of both lanes of the bridge, the streetlights are being replaced across the stretch of the bridge. A trip across the bridge during the week revealed that one of the lanes had been completed with the appropriate road markings. Also, the medians, barriers and railings painted, just as the railings that have been stolen or damaged were replaced. The streetlights were also being fixed.

Furthermore, some motorists and commuters who are amazed by the level of work done have been sharing videos and pictures of the rehabilitated sections of Third Mainland Bridge, tagging it the new look Third Mainland Bridge.

The Federal Government announced late October that a comprehensive rehabilitation of the 11.8 kilometer Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos would commence on November 1 for a period of 3 months.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, said that the entire stretch of the Third Mainland Bridge would undergo total resurfacing, explaining that patching of various sections of the top surface of bridge had led to undulating surfacing, which was not healthy for its safety, hence the need to remove and relay the entire asphalticcovering.

He said: “We are going to mill out the excess asphalt and retain only two millimetres.’’ He further said that the proposed maintenance of Third Mainland Bridge, which would last three months, was the first phase meant to secure the integrity as well aesthetics of the upper deck components of the bridge.
According to him, the maintenance of the aesthetics would include replacement of the railings, installation of solar-powered lights and CCTV cameras for optimal security of the bridge.

A motorist, Adisa Adewale, speaking on the level of work done on the bridge, said though he is not an engineer but the works seem of quality. “I noticed that all the streetlights installed on the bridge’s median are being fixed while additional streetlights are being mounted on the sideways. This is a good one. I also learnt that the government plans to install CCTV camera. If that is done, it would be a good one for security and safety.”

He commended the government for doing a comprehensive work on the bridge, hoping that the government will not allow it to degenerate before doing the basic repairs to avoid constant closure of the bridge to vehicular traffic.

Also commenting on face book, Lukman Bakare feared that with the very smooth surface of the bridge, many motorists would be over speeding which has its negative consequences. He, therefore, called for installation of speed breakers on the bridge.

Similarly, a Nigerian with the social media handle, @TopeA8, said: “I am not in Nigeria right now and haven’t driven on the road, but I have driven a lot to know a good road when I see one. And this surface does indeed look ridiculously comfortable. I don’t know about the integrity (how long it will last), but I can tell just from the video that the current condition is mint. Even in the West, I wouldn’t say that such a condition is the average.”

Speaking on the repairs recently, the Minister of Works said: “The new look of the Third Mainland Bridge is how Nigerian roads under the Renewed Hope administration of Mr. President will look going forward. He means well for Nigeria.”

The minister also explained that in keeping with the vision of the PresidentTinubu, unprecedented road infrastructure transformations is going on nationwide.“And this is a strategic agenda of the renewed hope administration of Mr President to achieve a holistic economic recovery for the nation.”

The Third Mainland Bridge, which is the longest of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, the others are the Eko and Carter bridges, was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC. The phase one of the project was commissioned by President Shehu Shagari in 1980 and completed by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990, measuring about 11.8 km in length.

The Third Mainland Bridge was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge located in Cairo was completed. The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and Lagos-IbadanExpressway, ending at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. There is also a link midway through the bridge that leads to Herbert Macaulay Way in Yaba.

However, by 2006, commuters started complaining about the bridge was noticeably vibrating, indicating that it needed urgent attention. As a result, repair works were constantly carried on sections of the bridge at different times, leading to intermittent partial closure of the bridge over the years.