Lagos State Transport Commissioner, Kayode Opeifa has said there is no plan to shut Third Mainland bridgeduring forthcoming maintenance.
Mr Opeifa said this time, a major repair work is to be carried on the bridge that would see eight of its joints strengthened. The repairs will focus on eight expansion joints near UNILAG waterfront.
In the Midnight to noon daily: Outward Lagos will run on Adeniji Adele-Carter bridge while inward Lagos to run on other side, between UNILAG waterfront and Adeniji Adele.
He further said Traffic Radio 96.1FM will give more information to Lagos residents.
He assured, however, that the state government would design alternatives to ease the enormous traffic challenge the development is bound to unleash on the metropolis.
Lateef Ibirogba, commissioner for Information and Strategy, corroborating his counterpart in charge of transportation, said plans were being worked out for alternative routes for alternative. According to Ibirogba, Lagosians need not panic, as it is in the interest of the public that the all-important bridge be made safer especially considering the volume of traffic it takes daily.
He assured that LASTMA and relevant stakeholders will work hand-in-hand to ensure the commercial city is not thrown into a state of chaos for the period the repair work will last. “Within this period, commuters and motorists will be advised to take alternative routes,” he said.
Ejike Mgbena, Southwest Zonal Controller of Works, was scanty with information when contacted on telephone on Friday. Nevertheless, he told CityFile that the Federal Ministry of Works was planning to release details of what is to be done on the bridge and why it will take a longer time compared to the two previous remedial works.
Meanwhile, despite assurances from Lagos State of the provision of alternative routes, there is still apprehension among Lagosians who fear that closing the bridge for four months will be hellish. Jackson Ephraim, a marketing agent with an insurance firm with an office on the Island, said FERMA and the contractor to handle the project should within their design create a way for motorists while the work is ongoing.
However, aside road, there are existing waterways to connect the island which are being run by licensed private operators. For example, from Ikorodu to Ebute Ero/Marina, there is a private ferry service operated by Metro Ferry.
Other routes include Marina-Mile 2; Marina-Ajah and Marina-Apapa routes. Although not all of these are currently operational, the state government may want to immediately reactivate and strengthen them this time.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) which runs three train services in the mornings and three in the evenings may also find it expedient to beef up operations. Currently, the NRC runs from Ijoko and Agbado to Iddo, the third train takes off from Iddo to Agbado with stop stations at Ebute Meta, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege and Agbado.
For the high class, there currently exists chartered helicopter service from Maryland, Ikeja to Victoria Island, but CityFile learnt this goes for close to N400, 000. This is certainly not for the middle or lower class.
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