Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos Nigeria will be shut to traffic at midnight on Thursday July 26 and reopened at midnight of Sunday July 29 this year to pave way for engineers conduct assessment tests on some sections of the bridge.
The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Adedamola Kuti, explained that if vehicles were allowed on the bridge during the tests, the movement will alter the readings expected from the tests.
Mr. Kuti said the results of the tests will enable them to determine how to embark on actual repair work, adding that details of alternative routes would be provided to members of the public tomorrow after a stakeholders’ meeting in the afternoon tomorrow.
Also read: Nigeria to construct fourth Mainland Bridge
About Third Mainland Bridge
Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, others are the Eko and Carter bridges. It was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge located in Cairo was completed.
The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi express way and Lagos-Ibadan express way, and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. There is also a link midway through the bridge that leads to Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and opened by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990; it measures about 11.8 km in length.
Recently, there have been rumours of cracks on the bridge. This, however, was denied by authorities. The eight-lane bridge experienced a new look during the last repairing exercise, painting the bridge guide with the colour of Nigeria green, white, green, and also general painting was carried out for a new look. The repair works on the bridge has been completed and was opened on 30 October 2012.
