The Federal Government has once again assured of the safety of the Third Mainland Bridge.
The government speaking through the Federal Ministry of Works released a report, entitled: “Federal Ministry of Works’ Report on the Third Mainland Bridge,” at the weekendto allay the fears expressed by Senator Gbenga Ashafa of Lagos State that the bridge might collapse soon.
The Director of Highway Design (Bridges), Federal Ministry of Works, Aniete Effiong, said the ministry has taken proactive steps, in line with its mandate to ensure that the Third Mainland Bridge, reputed to be the busiest in Africa and a very important infrastructure investment of government, is protected and kept in an acceptable service state.
The bridge, according to Effiong, is 11.8km long and divided into two sections; the first from Lagos Island to Ebute Metta (Adeniji Adele Interchange–Adekunle Interchange), which has a box girder arrangement cantilevered from the pier to the mid-span, was completed in 1979 by PGH, a consortium made up of Messrs Borini Prono, Messrs Girola and Messrs Hiconi; and the second section from Ebute Metta to Oworonshoki, which was later completed in 1990 by Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is a multi-span structure.
Effiong rightly observed that the Third Mainland Bridge was a vital artery of the network of Federal Highways and commanded high patronage in Lagos Municipal Area, considering the importance of the city as the major commercial centre in the country.