Olukayode Popoola, the Federal Controller of Works Lagos said on Wednesday that there will be three days of a total shutdown of the Third Mainland Bridge for another round of repairs.
Mr Popoola revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone that the shutdown would take effect from midnight on Friday to midnight of Monday, February 1.
He further explained that construction works had reached the stage for “casting concrete on additional three expansion joints, hence the need to stop all movements on the bridge that could cause vibrations”.
He stated that the 72 hours closure was to ensure that the concrete sets properly during the curing process’ to make the rehabilitation works perfect and durable.
He appealed for the understanding of Lagos residents.
“Messers Boroni Prono is planning to cast three number expansion joints on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st.
”This will require total closure of the Third Mainland bridge from 12:00 midnight of Friday 29th till midnight on Monday 1st February 2021.
“We are sorry for the inconveniences this may cause Lagosians,” Mr Popoola said.
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The Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which is going through a series of repairs, had to be partially shut on July 24, last year, for rehabilitation works.
Due to some unforeseen circumstances such as the recent #ENDSARS protest in Lagos, the repair expected to last six months was extended by one month extending the completion date from January 2021 to February.
Initially, the construction was divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki bound carriageway whose completion dragged to four months.
Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji Ramp and Ebute Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge.
The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland.
The bridge starts from Oworonshoki, which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.
Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged to be the longest in Africa until 1996 when the October 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt, was completed.
