THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE: FG, LASG Declare Readiness To Begin Collaborative Repairs On Alternative Routes

Barely four days to the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for rehabilitation, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Olukayode Popoola, has stated that massive rehabilitation of alternative routes is progressing as scheduled.

Popoola, who disclosed this during an assessment tour of work progress on the alternative routes, noted that the Federal Ministry of Works and Lagos State Government embarked on the rehabilitation works together but on different access paths.

He explained that the projects were embarked on, after the stakeholders’ meeting held on July 13th, where all the participants reached an agreement on the need for urgent interventions across major access roads that would serve as alternative routes for motorists during the Third Mainland Bridge closure.

According to him, “We have made significant efforts in providing alternative routes that people may take during the closure. The Federal Ministry of Works has repaired Iddo-Oyingbo Road. We directed the contractor, Messrs Borini Porini, to go there and fill the potholes, which they have done. We also cleared the drains there after our meeting with stakeholders on July 11th”.

“CCECC was also deployed to fix failed portions of the Independence Tunnel on Ikorodu Road on Thursday. The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), on its part had fixed bad portions and cleaned drains at Ijora Olopa”, he added.

The Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde explained that the Lagos State Government agreed to fix bad portions around the Iganmu Bridge and some other roads through its Public Works agency.

Oladeinde assured that adequate arrangement has been made for effective traffic control throughout the six months partial lockdown of the Third Mainland Bridge, stressing that about 600 LASTMA personnel would be deployed to direct traffic to ensure free vehicular movement on major routes.

Also speaking during the inspection, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, expressed the importance of the State Government’s intervention on alternative routes so as to alleviate the inconvenience imposed by the partial closure.

While appealing to commuters to obey traffic rules during the period of the closure, she maintained that the State Government would ensure that all the alternative routes are in good condition before the commencement of repair works on the bridge.

By Grace Tunji