Abiodun OBA     }   

The total shutdown of the Third Mainland Bridge was lifted at midnight of Jan. 31, 24 hours ahead of schedule.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Olukayode Popoola, on Sunday, said, “The casting of the expansion joints was completed on Saturday. Therefore, the Third Mainland Bridge will be opened by 12 midnight on Jan. 31.

“Motorists can start plying the bridge as from 12 midnight,” he said.

Popoola thanked road users for their understanding, adding that the reopening had been communicated to the Lagos State government and all relevant agencies to ensure seamless traffic on the highway.

Recall, that the controller had on Jan. 27, announced a three-day total shutdown of the bridge from midnight of Friday to midnight of Monday, Feb. 1 to allow for replacement of three expansion joints.

The bridge had gone through series of repairs, since it was partially shut on July 24, 2020 for another round of rehabilitation works.

The repair, expected to last six months, was extended by one month due to the #EndSARS protests in Lagos, thus extending the completion date from January to February.

The construction was initially divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki-bound carriageway whose completion dragged to four months.

Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5 kilometres where construction was ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji ramp and Ebute-Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge.

The 11.8-kilometre 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.

The Third Mainland bridge was adjudged the longest in Africa until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt, was completed.

It was constructed in 1990.

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