Federal government has resolved to reopen both Eko and Apongbon bridges to traffic ahead of schedule by midnight of July 9, 2023 to alleviate the suffering of road users.
The director, Highways, Bridges and Designs in the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Omotayo Awosanya gave the hint when he led top engineers from the federal team and Lagos State on inspection of the bridges.
The team earlier had a closed-door meeting with Buildwell Plants and Equipment Industries Ltd, the contractors handling the project at their construction yard in Costain.
Recall that the federal government had earlier set July 15 completion deadline for the bridges.
Awosanya said the new date was to reduce hardships faced by Lagos residents, adding that, when the bridges are re-opened there will be intermittent short closures to continue repairs.
He said an existing contract for rehabilitation of the entire Eko Bridge had reached 50 per cent completion.
The director added that a total of 150 bearings had been replaced with additional 150 to be installed in subsequent rehabilitation works.
He explained that at exactly midnight on Sunday, July 9, the bridges would be re-opened so that commuters would have smooth passage on Monday morning of July 10.
Awosanya said the date review was borne out of the need to relieve stress commuters have undergone for almost a year since fire gutted Apongbon section and later Ijora Olopa portion.
He said full scale rehabilitation would continue on other sections of the Eko Bridge, as the contract is meant to last three years.
Awosanya said: “We have come here to urge the contractor to reduce five days out of the 15th of July, we are now going to open the bridge on the 9th at 12.00 midnight.
“And a minute after 12.00 am on the 9th, the bridge will be opened for traffic on the 10th.
“This is as a result of close collaboration between the federal government and Lagos State government because we are mindful of the stress the closure of this bridge has caused to Lagosians and we have put pressure on the contractor to open the bridge on Monday for traffic.”
Permanent secretary office of infrastructure in Lagos State, Mr Olufemi Daramola, expressed satisfaction with the level of work, assuring residents of better motoring experience on the axis after re-opening of both bridges.
Daramola said with what is on ground, “9th of July is very realistic”, assuring that arrangements were at high level towards protection of all bridges.
On her part, the federal controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha appreciated the Lagos public for their patience while the repairs of both bridges lasted.
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