Third Mainland Bridge Safe, Says FG

Bennett Oghifo

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has said the Third Mainland Bridge is safe for motorists, contrary to trending pictures on social media that some pile caps have been vandalised.

In a statement issued yesterday, the ministry said some pile caps were chiselled by the contractor it engaged to maintain some sections of the bridge, but had to disengage them because the ministry disagreed with the contractor on quality of work.

The contractor, according to the ministry, left without closing the pile caps, adding that the maintenance work would be undertaken by another contractor.

The statement said, “There is no vandalisation of any part of the bridge’s sub-structure, the photograph circulating in the media refers to the prepared/chiselled section of the ongoing rehabilitation works on the bridge. Hence, the bridge is safe for public use.”

In April this year, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the sum of N6.28 billion for the maintenance of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

Former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, said, “The council approved a fresh contract for the maintenance of the pavement of the Third Mainland Bridge and this was approved in the sum of N6.28 billion for 24 months,” the politician said.

“I have been asked about the works that have been done on the bridge before. The works are concentrating largely on the substructure of the bridge, the underwater piles, the pile caps, and also the replacement of the expansion joints and the bearings.

“These are maintenance works that are critical to the structural integrity of the bridge. What we are dealing with now is different. It is the driving surface and also the aesthetics.

“Some of the rails have been stolen. Some of the pleats are misaligned at the routes that lead you on and off the bridge.”