‘Why Third Mainland Bridge should shut now’ |

From Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

The Federal Authorities on Tuesday gave causes for the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State on Friday for repairs.

It mentioned there was no cash to overtake the whole bridge, therefore the repairs to place it in good condition.

The job is predicted to be accomplished subsequent January.

The bridge, thought-about the busiest within the nation with common site visitors price of 132,702 autos per day, can be formally closed to street customers by midnight of July 24.

Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola addressed reporters in Abuja on the proposed upkeep of the bridge.

He mentioned the upkeep can be carried out on 3.5 kilometres out of the bridge’s 11.8-kilometre size.

In line with him, the rehabilitation of the bridge grew to become expedient because the broken parts had been growing.

Fashola mentioned the federal government can’t afford to rebuild the bridge, whether it is left to break down.

He mentioned the Third Mainland Bridge, which hyperlinks the Lagos Island with the Lagos Mainland, was among the many bridges designated for upkeep after a complete evaluation of the 37 bridges throughout the nation.

The minister, who expressed concern concerning the hardship the closure of the bridge would deliver on Nigerians, added that it had turn into crucial to hold out the upkeep work.

He mentioned: “The development of the bridge spanned three many years and we can’t afford to rebuild it, if we enable it to completely collapse. Infrastructure have to be maintained. After the work is finished, we could have a greater driving expertise on the bridge.”

Fashola mentioned N277 billion can be wanted to rehabilitate the 37 bridges throughout the nation.