Contrary to the fears generated by trending video of a dangling joint on the 11.9kms Third Mainland Bridge linking Lagos Island and mainland, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Sunday announced that the bridge is still within safe motoring limit.
A video supposedly emanating from a popular Lagos based private TV station (name with held) had gone viral on Facebook spreading fears about the bridge.
In a statement hurriedly issued following the trend, Special Adviser, Communications, to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Hakeem Bello, noted even though the video is real, the expansion joints being shown to be dangerous was among those slated for repairs.
The Ministry said “The General Public is hereby informed that the expansion joint shown in a Facebook video clip, is one of those slated for change during repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge which will commence soon.
“It is still functioning and our engineers and consultants have advised that it does not pose any structural danger to the bridge and it is safe for use.
“Commuters and Lagos residents will recall that the Third Mainland Bridge was shut down for a 3-day Investigative Maintenance in August 2018.
“Tests done on the expansion joints then — called static and dynamic load tests — were to check functionality. A number of expansion joints were identified for replacement then.
Business Hilights recalls that earlier in March this year, the bridge had underwater confirmatory tests preceding the repair works to be done on the Bridge, were carried out on the piles to determine if there is further deterioration or not on the piles from that done in 2013.
The ministry also averred that all the tests done preparatory to closure of the Bridge to commence comprehensive Maintenance works indicate that the integrity of the Bridge is intact.
Judging from the above, Bello claimed that “The Third Mainland Bridge is safe for use, and people should desist from spreading or sharing false information about the Bridge on Social Media platforms.
