Our ministry has got approval for complete rehabilitation of Eko Bridge — Fashola

The minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, says the ministry has got approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for complete rehabilitation of Eko Bridge, otherwise called Second Mainland Bridge, in Lagos.

This is a piece of good news for Lagos motorists whose driving experience on the bridge on regular basis is better imagined than expressed. The bridge is not only in bad condition, but has become a metaphor for stress as a result of traffic congestion, especially during morning hours.

The bridge and its landward extension of 1,350 metres were constructed in phases between 1965 and 1975 by Julius Berger Nigeria. It serves as the preferred access point for vehicular traffic approaching Lagos Island from the Apapa and Surulere areas of Lagos.

Fashola who spoke during an inspection visit to the Alaka end of the Bridge on Thursday, where a major repair work is being carried out by Buildwell Construction Company, disclosed that Eko Bridge was one of the 50 bridges currently receiving maintenance, repair and refurbishment across the country in line with government’s national infrastructure maintenance programme.

The minister explained that the infrastructure renewal, expansion and development programme has been the focus of the Muhammodu Buhari administration, adding, “this is part of the national asset maintenance programme that the FEC has approved, not just to restore national infrastructure but also to create jobs.”

The Minister explained further that the decision to close the Alaka end of the bridge was to prevent accidents following the emergency repairs of the Eko Bridge, Marine Beach Bridge, and Third Mainland Bridge all of which are undergoing repair at the same time.

Similarly, the ministry will, by midnight Friday, close the Third Mainland Bridge till midnight of Sunday, October 11. This is to allow the contractor handling the refurbishment of the bridge to fix the three expansion joints ready for concrete casting between Adeniji Adele and Adekunle end of the bridge, covering about 3.5 kilometres of the 11.8 kilometres Third Mainland Bridge.

Paola Prono, executive director, Borini Prono and Co. Nigeria Limited, a civil engineering and building contractor handling the Third Mainland Bridge, said the three number expansion joints were ready for concrete casting on Saturday and requires 48 hours, hence the total closure of the bridge starting by midnight of today till midnight, Sunday, October 11, to prevent any vehicular movement on the bridge.