Phase one of Third Mainland Bridge repair is almost complete — Controller

TRACKING___On Friday, the Federal Works Controller in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, confirmed that repairs to the Third Mainland Bridge were progressing rapidly and that the first phase would be delivered on time in October.

Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that nearly all bad expansion joints were pulled out and would be replaced as soon as the weather became clement.

With the rapid progress in construction, he said, the ongoing first phase of the project will be completed on the Oworonsoki-bound carriageway on time.

“We have been able to cut all the six expansion joints, we have removed the concrete, we have pulled out four, remaining two.

“Hopefully, we are still looking at October, that we will complete the work on the Oworonsoki-bound lane,” the controller said.

Daily Times recalls that the Third Mainland Bridge which has gone through a series of repairs was partially shut on July 24, for another round of rehabilitation works.

The repair is expected to last for six months, with the work on each carriageway divided into two phases of three months, beginning with the Oworonshoki-bound road.

Speaking on the Eko Bridge, Popoola said that the contract for phase two rehabilitation of the bridge had been awarded, and it captured all worn-out expansion joints and bearings on the bridge.

“All those places that have depression on the bridge will be taken care of properly,” he said.

Popoola said that the ongoing phase one emergency rehabilitation of the Eko bridge was about 75 per cent completed.

“The plan is to open the bridge to traffic in another two or three weeks, when we will be done with the emergency repairs,” the controller said.

Speaking on section one of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Popoola said it was 54 per cent completed with work ongoing on the bridge sections of the highway.

“Work is progressing steadily on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, we are working on the bridge sections.

“We have been able to complete two numbers abutment where we are going to have the interchange.

“Piling work is ongoing where we are going to have the flyover,” he told NAN.

Commenting on Lagos-Abeokuta-Ota Expressway project, he said that asphalt was already being laid on some sections, including Kola Bus Stop area of Lagos State.

He said that 160 metres of drains had also been completely reconstructed on the Lagos side of the project.

The controller said that drain stuffing habit of Lagos residents was frustrating highway drainage cleaning exercises.

Popoola urged residents to take responsibility and take the drains as personal assets to be protected from abuse, to end the ugly trend of using drains as garbage cans, thereby compounding flooding.

READ ALSO: 4 things closure of third mainland bridge means for Lagosians

“We need to take proper care of the lined drains so that they are not silted up. There are so many things government has to spend money on, so, if they provide drains citizens should be able to take care of it. We should not block it,” he said.

The controller said that the ministry just finished cleaning highway drains on Eko and Apongbon Bridges on Sunday.

He said that cleaning on highway drainage channels was a continuous exercise.