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Tag: Third Mainland Bridge

  • BREAKING: FG announces 3-day total shutdown of Third Mainland Bridge

    BREAKING: FG announces 3-day total shutdown of Third Mainland Bridge

    The Federal Government has announced a total shutdown of Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos for three days from midnight on Friday to midnight on Sunday to carry out special repair works on the 11.8km platform.

    The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, said in a statement that the construction had reached a stage where there should not be any form of movement or vibration on the bridge for concrete casting, hence the closure.

    “The first total closure of the section of the bridge between Adekunle and Adeniji Adele will be from midnight of Friday, 9th October, 2020 to midnight of Sunday, 11th October 2020 to allow the contractor complete the first stage of casting works.

    “The contractor, Messrs Borini Prono & Co. (Nig.) Ltd, is nearing completion of works on the closed section of Third Mainland Bridge and requires the total closure of both bounds of the bridge between Adeniji Adele and Adekunle (i.e. in addition to the closed bound of the bridge, the other bound from Adekunle to Adeniji Adele will also be closed) to complete work.

    “The total closure of this section of the bridge is to ensure that there is no vibration on the bridge during the casting in-place of the newly installed expansion joints. This is to allow for setting of the special concrete, which allows the concrete to achieve its required compressive strength.

    “Due to the number of expansion joints to be cast on the closed section of the bridge and the traffic situation in Lagos State, especially during the week days; the casting of the expansion joints will be in two stages to ensure that the total closure is only at the weekends, when there is less traffic plying the route,’ ’he said.

    The controller said that adequate traffic management officials would be deployed to man all the alternative routes to help with traffic flow and expressed regret at any inconvenience the closure might cause.

    Popoola added that the second total closure of the section of the bridge between Adekunle and Adeniji Adele would be communicated at a later date.

    “The section of the bridge between Adekunle and Iyana – Oworo will still remain open, and traffic can move from Ebute-Metta/ Adekunle to Iyana – Oworo and vice – versa,’’he said.

    Recall that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which was going through 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 construction divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki bound carriageway.

    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 as the longest in Africa until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was completed.

  • Bus driver escapes death on Third Mainland Bridge [PHOTOS]

    Bus driver escapes death on Third Mainland Bridge [PHOTOS]

    An unidentified bus driver on Sunday escaped death on Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State after the bus he was driving went up in flames.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a technical fault resulted to the fire that engulfed the bus, but the driver was able to leave before it burnt completely, according to an eye witness.

    The incident resulted to traffic congestion on the ever-busy Third Mainland Bridge as there was no official from any of the government agencies to take control.

    See photos below:

  • Lagos gives update on Third Mainland Bridge repairs

    Lagos gives update on Third Mainland Bridge repairs

    The Ministry of Transportation of the Lagos State Government has said the repair works on Third Mainland Bridge are progressing as planned.

    The ministry said this on Friday while inspecting all alternative routes provided for commuters to access the bridge.

    The inspection team led by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, and other ministry officials toured Ikorodu Road, Jibowu, Yaba, Oyingbo, Iddo, and Carter (Idumota) Bridge, amongst others.

    Speaking at the end of the inspection, Oladeinde said, “The work is about six months; we have done two months. We are on schedule. Next month, we will finish the first part and move on to the next part. So, we are on course to reopen on the 24th of January 2021.

    “The first one started on the 24th of July and by the 24th of October, we should finish that section where they are working on and they should move to the next section. That would be another three months.”

  • Sanwo-Olu rescues man from suicide attempt on Third Mainland Bridge

    Sanwo-Olu rescues man from suicide attempt on Third Mainland Bridge

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, rescued a man who wanted to commit suicide because he has a debt of N500,000.

    The governor made this known while speaking to journalists after he visited the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Broad Street and some other hospitals in different parts of the State, to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir with in-patients and health practitioners.

    Speaking on his response to a recent viral video of a boy begging his mother to calm down while punishing him for an offense he committed, Governor Sanwo-Olu said he believes strongly in paying attention and creating time to little things because there might be somebody somewhere who needs a help.

    He said: “You look at big things but you need to certainly create time for little things as well. That is the difference. You know, you are going to build a bridge and it is nice but you have somebody who is just somewhere who needs a help.

    “Just this morning (Friday), we rescued somebody who was planning to jump at the Third Mainland Bridge all because he said he has a debt of N500,000. We had to rescue him and we paid the debt. Those little details are what make the difference.

    “I don’t have two heads, I don’t have 15 fingers. We are still same human beings. So, we need to show that human part of us while we are not losing sight of the big picture. The big picture is that we want to build roads, bridges and new schools. But we also need to pay attention to little one like the young boy on that video. By the way, I have spoken to him and his mother. They are doing great and I will see him one of these days very soon.”

  • Photo: Panic as bus explodes on Third Mainland Bridge

    Photo: Panic as bus explodes on Third Mainland Bridge

    A commercial bus conveying several kegs of diesel Tuesday afternoon exploded on Third Mainland Bridge bringing traffic to a standstill.

    It was gathered that the explosion occurred at 2pm around Adekunle, forcing the authorities to restrict vehicular movement to a lane while they battle to extinguish and recover the bus.

    According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) no life was lost in the explosion, neither was any injury recorded.

    Motorists trapped in the bedlam appealed to relevant agencies to resolve the issue speedily and spare them further hardship.

    Some of them lamented that they were in traffic for over four hours on Monday (yesterday), adding that traffic caused by the exploded bus might cause them more hours today if not handled quickly.

    Others expressed concerns over attacks by traffic robbers known for always taking advantage of such situations to fleece victims.

    But the Lagos State Police Command dismissed fears of possible robbery attacks, insisting that it has deployed 1,000 cops to man strategic routes round the clock.

    diesel explodes on Third Mainland Bridge

    Police spokesman, Bala Elkana, said the 1,000 cops were being completed by officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that residents are kept safe even in traffic.

    “Our men are everywhere. We have made deployment since the night before the bridge closure. So, people should not panic. We know that there will be traffic but we are also on our toes to ensure there are no obstructions and criminals do not take advantage of the situation,” he said.

  • Partial closure of Third Mainland Bridge begins

    Partial closure of Third Mainland Bridge begins

    At about midnight on Friday, concrete barriers went up at the mouth of the 11.8km Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

    The barriers signalled the beginning of repairs of the 30 year-old bridge and its partial closure for the next six months.

    First to be blocked was the outbound multi-lane at Adeniji Adele, which carries traffic from the Lagos island to the Lagos mainland at Oworonsoki.

    The barriers will be in place till noon Saturday, when it will be opened for traffic.

    Simultaneously, some other set of concrete barriers will block traffic from Oworonsoki end, going to Lagos.

    The blockade will also be in place till midnight, when it will be opened for traffic coming into Lagos

    The alternating open and close is a rhythm Lagosians plying the bridge must master in the next six months as the almost 30 year-old bridge goes into repair mode.

    The Federal Controller of Works, Olukayode Popoola, explained the rhythm to Channels TV:

    “In the morning when you are going to resume your work, right from Oworonshoki, you use the same line that you normally use to go and work.

    “By 12 in the afternoon, we close this lane so you can now divert. We have created diversion as you can see it,” he said.

    Workss Minister, Raji Fashola explained that the maintenance of the busiest bridge in the country was aimed at replacing damaged components for a better motoring experience.

    The maintenance is to be carried out on a length of 3.5 kilometres out of the 11.8 kilometres of the bridge.

  • Third Mainland Bridge closure: FG, LASG begin alternative routes collaborative repairs

    Third Mainland Bridge closure: FG, LASG begin alternative routes collaborative repairs

    Barely four days to the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for rehabilitation, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, said massive rehabilitation of alternative routes were progressing.

    Popoola told the on Sunday that the Federal Ministry of Works and Lagos State Government were tackling the rehabilitation works together simultaneously on different access paths.

    He said rising from a stakeholders meeting which held on July 13th, all participants, including the roads maintenance interests groups, swung into immediate action to ensure minimal traffic discomfort.

    He added that during the meeting, an agreement was reached for urgent interventions across major access routes which was being complied with.

    “The efforts we have made so far concerning the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge on July 24th, some of the alternative routes that people may take are being repaired.

    “The Federal Ministry of Works has repaired Iddo-Oyingbo Road, we asked the contractor, Messrs Borini Porini, to go there and fill the pot holes, which they have done.

    “We also cleared the drains there after our meeting with stakeholders on July 11th,” he told NAN.

    He added that CCECC was also deployed to fix failed portions of the Independence Tunnel on Ikorodu Road on Thursday.

    Popoola said that Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) on its part had fixed bad portions and cleaned drains at Ijora Olopa.

    The controller explained that the Lagos State Government agreed to fix bad portions around the Iganmu Bridge adding that, its public works agency was also fixing some other roads.

    “I was with the Special Adviser to Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday and they promised to address the failure around the Iganmu Bridge.

    “And I am sure they have started because they are working with the Lagos State Public Works Corporation,” he said.

    NAN reports that the controller had on July 6 announced the plan to close the bridge on July 24th for another phase of repair works and later revealed a traffic management plan.

    NAN recalls that the bridge which has gone through series of rehabilitation works was last shut in August 2018 for a three day investigative maintenance check.

    Thereafter, some components needed for completion of repairs which were not available locally were sourced abroad.

    The 11.8km Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of 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.

    It was constructed in 1990 and it was adjudged as the longest in Africa until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was completed.

  • Third Mainland Bridge: FG, Lagos seek commuters’ assistance

    Third Mainland Bridge: FG, Lagos seek commuters’ assistance

    The Federal and the Lagos state governments have urged commuters to cooperate with the relevant agencies during the six-month partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for maintenance work.

     

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the Federal Government had on Monday announced the partial closure of the bridge from July 24 to January 24, 2021for maintenance work.

     

     

     

    The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukayode Popoola, stated that necessary actions were being put in place to reduce gridlock during the partial closure of the bridge.

     

    Popoola said at a press briefing on Tuesday that there would be diversion of traffic in two phases during the partial closure of the bridge.

     

    He said, “Phase one of the diversion, which will last three months for the repair of the Oworonsoki bound lane of the Third Mainland Bridge, will be for morning traffic from 12am to 1pm from Oworonshoki to Lagos Island on the Lagos Island-bound lane, while the afternoon traffic from 1pm to 12am would be from Lagos Island to Oworonsoki on the Lagos Island-bound lane.

     

    “The phase two of the diversion, which will also last three months for the repair of the Lagos Island-bound lane of the Third Mainland Bridge, will be for morning traffic from 12am to 1pm from Oworonsoki to Lagos Island on the Oworonsoki bound lane, while the afternoon traffic from 1pm to 12am will be from Lagos Island to Oworonsoki on the Oworonsoki bound lane.’’

     

    In addition, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, said priority would be given to commuters from the Mainland to the Island in the morning and afternoon to use the Third Mainland Bridge, while those driving against the traffic would use the alternative routes.

     

     

     

     

  • Third Mainland Bridge: FG, LASG draw traffic plan towards 6 months closure

    Third Mainland Bridge: FG, LASG draw traffic plan towards 6 months closure

    Federal and Lagos State Governments on Tuesday announced traffic management plan towards partial closure of the ‘Third Mainland Bridge’ for six months maintenance.

    At a joint media briefing, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, said that the routine maintenance of the bridge, would be carried out from July 24 to Jan. 24, 2021.

    Popoola said that the bridge was last rehabilitated in 2012.

    “Consequently, the Third Mainland Bridge will be partially closed and there will be diversion of traffic,” he said.

    Popoola said that the repairs would be done in two phases and the Oworonshoki bound carriageway would be the first to be shut to traffic for three months for rehabilitation.

    He said that within the period, motorists would use the Island bound lane and alternative routes provided.

    He said that in the first phase, the morning which would be from 12:00 midnight to 1:00p.m, the highway, would take the Oworonshoki to Lagos Island traffic only on the Lagos Island bound carriageway.

    He said that from 1:00p,m to 12:00 midnight, the highway would take the Lagos Island to Oworonshoki traffic, only on the Lagos Island bound carriageway.

    “This will be in place for three months for repairs of the Oworonshoki bound lane,” he said.

    He added that the same process would be replicated on the Lagos Island bound carriageway upon completion of repairs of the Oworonshoki lane.

    “Motorists are advised to ply alternative routes from Carter Bridge through Iddo, through Oyingbo to join Adekunle ramp inward Oworonshoki.

    “From Ijora Olopa through Western Avenue to Ikorodu Road.

    “Traffic control will be in place to direct and help traffic movement. We regret the inconveniences this might cause the motorists,” Popoola said.

    The Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, promised that the state would rehabilitate access routes areas for use.

    Adeyoye listed roads to receive urgent attention to include Herbert Macaulay way and Iddo/Oyingbo roads.

    She said that Adeniji Adele Road contract had been awarded and its repairs would soon begin.

    She warned owners of trucks not in good condition to stay away from the roads while warning against the habitual indiscriminate parking of trucks on roads and bridges.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Fredrick Oladeinde, said that the Vehicle Inspection Service had started checking trucks for road worthiness and those not fit would be confiscated.

    “So, I think we have confiscated over 90 vehicles between June and today. So we will continue to do that. We will have more VIS on the roads to ensure that only roadworthy trucks come into Lagos.

    “We are doubling our efforts just to make sure that we don’t have any breakdown that would further cause congestion.

    “The last time we did a traffic count, we had over 60,000 trips going from the Mainland to the Island and those going on the other side is just about 20,000.

    “A lot of traffic goes to the Island in the morning and goes back to the Mainland in the evening,” he said.

    The Lagos Sector Commander, Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, said that the traffic management was going to be tasking but the security agencies, both the state and Federal, would collaborate.

    “The LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corp and other agencies that have to do with maintenance of traffic in Lagos State are well prepared and we have mapped out the deployment of our men.

    “Even when the road is good, the traffic situation in Lagos is enormous and the challenge is enormous.

    “The major task will happen when the downpour is on and we have enough accessories and equipment that are already prepared for our operatives, that even under the downpour, we are going to be visible all over.

    “So, I just want to plead with members of public that the issue of enforcement is going to be fully enphasised on.

    “We are not going to compromise that, because we will do everything to remove whatever will create unnecessary pain for Lagosians,” he said.

    NAN reports that the Third Mainland bridge was shut in August 2018 for a three days investigative maintenance check.

    Thereafter, some components needed for the completion of the repairs, were sourced abroad because they were not available locally.

    The 11.8km third Mainland Bridge, is the longest of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland.

    The bridge begins from Oworonshoki to link the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.

    It was constructed in 1990 and was the longest in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge in Cairo was completed.

  • Third Mainland Bridge closes for repairs July 24

    The Federal Government is to close the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos for six months beginning from July 24.

    The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukayode Popoola, made the disclosure in the metropolis.

    He said consultations were ongoing for another round of repairs on the 11.8-kilometer facility.

    Popoola said the work would start on the outward section of the infrastructure, as the ministry had begun interfacing with relevant agencies for free flow of traffic during the period.

    The bridge has undergone several face-liftings and was last closed in August 2018 for a three-day maintenance check.