Third Mainland Bridge

 

Olaolu Olusina
Contrary to reports that the Third Mainland Bridge would be partially closed during the period of repairs which will commence by July 1, Lagos State Government has said traffic will only be diverted during between 12 am to 12 noon when repair work is being carried out.

The Commissioner of Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, who explained this yesterday, noted that over 500 Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials have been deployed to ensure free flow of traffic on all alternative routes.

Opiefa who appealed to motorists for patience and understanding during the time stated that the alternative routes include Adeniji Adele, Carter Bridge, Murtala Mohammed Way, Ikorodu Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko Bridge, Ijora Causeway, Wharf Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway among other routes.

Apart from LASTMA officials, Opeifa said military personnel, the Police FRSC officials would be on hand to ensure free flow of traffic.

According to the commissioner, the repair work which will commence July 1, 2012 and is scheduled to be completed by November 6, 2012.

He said those coming from Victoria Island who wants to come to the mainland or Ikeja area before 12 noon could divert at the Adeniji Adele interchange to exit through Carter Bridge and link any of the alternative routes.

He added that those coming from Ibadan Ikeja axis to the Island could avoid the Third Mainland Bridge by using Ikorodu Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Agege Motor Road among other routes.

“It is not about closure it is about diversion of traffic during the time work would be going on at the bridge, People coming from Victoria Island from 12 midnight to 12 noon will divert at Adeiji Adele to connect Carter Bridge, through Iddo junction to exit to any of the alternative routes” he said.

Opeifa said all designated diversion points would be manned by officials of LASTMA who will ensure that the expected gridlock would be contained effectively without chaos.
He stated that the repair is part of government’s routine maintenance work to ensure that the Bridge is always in good shape, adding that there are about eight points to repaired.

The Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island, to the mainland, the other two being the Eko and Carter bridges. It is the longest bridge in Africa. The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi express way and Lagos-Ibadan express way, and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.

There is also a link midway through the bridge that leads to the Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and opened by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990; it measures about 11.8km in length.

Posted by admin on Jun 27 2012. Filed under Lagos, State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry