arring any last minute change of mind, motorists on Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos may be keeping appointment with gridlock and extended travel time as that bridge will be closed to traffic tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9, 2024....CONTINUE READING
A statement by the federal government says the closure will take effect by 11 am on the said date and, according to Olukorede Kesha, the federal Controller of Works in Lagos, the bridge will be closed for seven weeks.
The statement explains that the closure of the bridge is aimed to enable the contractor handling the comprehensive rehabilitation of the bridge to continue his work which was suspended on December 14, 2023 for the Yuletide celebrations.
“The motoring public is hereby notified that the emergency repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos will continue with the closure of Iyana Oworonshoki- Adeniji Adele bound carriageway for the effective repairs of the entire section of the bridge,” Kesha said.
The Lagos State government has, however addressed the concerns of motorists who are already apprehensive of the delay in commuting time and the attendant loss of man-hour which are expected from the closure of the bridge.
A statement released by the state government recently says the bridge will be open from 12am to 12 noon, for motorists moving from Mainland to the Island while those going to the mainland from the Island within that period should go through Eko Bridge—the Second Mainland Bridge.
On the other hand, from 12 noon to 12am, motorists from the Island to the Mainland will be able to use the bridge while those going to the island from the mainland should use Eko Bridge.
Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Lagos commissioner for transportation, who pleaded with motorists to cooperate with traffic management officials who will be on ground, explained that these periods were scheduled to fit into the peak periods of traffic flow and, by so doing, reduce travel stress.
In addition to this arrangement, the controller advised that motorists should use alternative routes to reach their destinations. These include Ojota – Ikorodu Road- Funsho Williams Avenue – Eko Bridge-Apogbon-CMS.
Others are Ojota- Ikorodu Road- Jibowu – Yaba- Oyingbo-Iddo- Carter Bridge- CMS, and Gbagada- Anthony- Ikorodu Road- Funsho Williams – Eko Bridge- Apogbon Bridge – CMS.
She also pleaded with motorists to cooperate with traffic management officials deployed to manage traffic and ensure hitch- free movements in order to minimize discomfort during this repair period.
