The Minister of Power, Works and Housing and former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has given fresh insights on why the Lagos third Mainland Bridge is in dire need of comprehensive repairs.
In an interview in Abuja, he said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved additional N80bn for the rehabilitation of Section II of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from Sagamu to Ibadan and N18.87bn for the rehabilitation and repair of the Third Mainland Bridge.
Explaining more on the N18.87bn for the rehabilitation and repair of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State, Fashola noted that “The contract for the repair was awarded to Borini Prono, the original builders of the bridge”.
While giving the completion period of the project as 27 months, the minister averred that the contract would involve critical repair works on all the 177 piles holding up the bridge, as well as general expansion joints replacement for the several expansion belts on the bridge.
Coming as part of the national bridge maintenance strategy being implemented by the Federal Government, Fashola said there may not be chances of total closure of the bridge within the period of the repairs unless during weekends if need be.
Business Hilights recalls that similar repairs were conducted about three years ago where about nine joints were fixed to end rising vibrations on the infrastructure then.
The bridge built by former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida during the early 1990s is about 11.9kms with six lanes moving traffic to and fro Lagos Island to mainland.
