Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured Lagosians that the Opebi-Mende-Ojota Link Bridge will be due for inauguration by the second quarter (Q2) 2024, The Herald reports.
Sanwo-Olu who disclosed this while addressing journalists during the inspection of the project on Tuesday noted that it will be another iconic bridge in the State where people will have enough room for cycling and pedestrian walk-way as being experienced in the developed nations.
The Governor said, “We are at Opebi-Lenbe-Ojota Link Bridge. The project was conceived more than a year ago. It is to provide an alternative for our citizens-people going to Allen-Opebi. How can they access Ojota?
“People from Maryland, how can they go straight to Ikeja? This is an economic development that we are changing, traffic management and commuting in Lagos.
“It will solve alternative problems we have either on Kudirat-Abiola Way. People going as far as Alausa. It will also solve the problem we have on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way,” Governor Sanwo-Olu stated.
While commenting on the terrain of the Bridge, Sanwo-Olu added that to have a well-solidified infrastructure, the contractor had to come up with many more piles.
The Governor expressed satisfaction with the level of work done. “I’m impressed with the level of work. We came here eleven months ago. We are still on track with the completion. Still hoping that by second quarter (Q2) of next year towards third quarter (Q3) we will finish the entire infrastructure so that we can hand it over to the citizens.
“We are still going to see a bit of furniture on the bridge. Eventually, it will look like another iconic bridge in Lagos. It will be similar to what we have in Lekki. There is enough room for cycling, there is pedestrian walk-way, it is a total life-changing. We will encourage people that will do exercise and encourage what we see in other developed nations.”
He noted, “We are on a stream right under this bridge. This link bridge has a very tough terrain. You can see the soil texture. The project manager, Julius Berger said they had to make additional piling to make sure that they preserved the land.
He urged citizens to be circumvent while buying land, saying if things are not done properly, they always have consequences.
“Part of the problem we have seen is, how to link this place with Ojota. The road construction had to also go under this old bridge,” the Governor said.
He went further, “The buildings at my right-hand side, you can see that they are tilting. So in due course, some of those buildings will be brought down. That is why we tell citizens that you just don’t see a land and you start building because consequences of not doing the right thing will catch up with you.” 2024