News
First Phase Of Work Completed On Third Mainland Bridge
The third mainland bridge in Lagos has completed work on the first phase of the bridge today 20th November. According to reports, the fixing of six expansion joints on the Oworonshoki-bound carriageway has been completed which marks the end of the first phase rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge.
With the completion. there will be an 18-hour total closure of the bridge this weekend. The 18-hour closure would begin from midnight on Saturday, 21 Nov through Sunday. By midnight of Sunday, the total closure would be removed and the partial closure would return.
The closure is necessary, so that debris would be cleared from the section and construction would move to the Island-bound carriageway.
About The Third Mainland Bridge
Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, the other 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 expressway and Lagos-Ibadan expressway 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. The phase one of the projects was commissioned by President Shehu Shagari in 1980 and completed by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990; it measures about 11.8 km in length.
By 2006, Many commuters had reported that the Third Mainland Bridge was vibrating noticeably, indicating that it needed urgent attention. As a result, remedial work was commenced on the portions of the bridge at different times, leading to a partial closure of the bridge at different times. As at January 2013, this work was completed.