Lagos Postpones Repairs of Third Mainland Bridge as Floods Sack Residents, Motorists Stranded

 Peter Uzoho

Barely 24 hours before the commencement of repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge, the Lagos State Government has announced its indefinite postponement.

The postponement, it was learnt, was due to the heavy downpour and the floods, which wreaked havoc in many parts of the state yesterday.

The ravaging floods sacked many residents of the state and left many motorists stranded, after causing severe damage to the roads.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, in a statement, explained that the rain affected the preliminaries of the planned palliative works on the asphalt pavement of the bridge by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation.

“A later date, which will be subject to weather conditions will be duly communicated for the palliative,” he added.

Osiyemi urged motorists to continue to access the bridge with observance of safety measures.

Recall that the Lagos State Government, through the state Public Works Corporation, (LPWC), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, had concluded plans to embark on the palliative works on the failed sections of the Third Mainland Bridge for two consecutive Sundays.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, who announced this last Thursday, added that the work would take place on Sunday, September 17, and Sunday, September 24, 2023, between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., each Sunday.

 “The proposed works will be strictly executed in two phases with phase one focusing on only the most critical sections on the Iyana Oworonshoki inward Adeniji Adele/Lagos Island,” Toriola said.

Toriola explained that the palliative works were scheduled for Sundays to minimise inconveniences for motorists.

Consequently, the state government released a travel advisory to ensure seamless movement of traffic.

Motorists and commuters had cried out to relevant authorities to come to prevent possible loss of lives and property due to fatal accidents often experienced on the bridge occasioned by several potholes sitting the axis.

Meanwhile, flood took over major areas of the Lagos metropolis following an early morning downpour, which shut down vehicular movement as well.

Some residents in affected areas were seen bailing out stormwater from their houses.

Meanwhile, some concerned motorists have decried the failed portion of the busy Ikotun Market Road in Igando Ikotun Council Development Area (LCDA).

Some of the motorists said the road which gave way a few months ago has been left unattended despite several complaints to the LCDA authority and the state government.

They, therefore, called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to pay an unscheduled visit to the area and ensure prompt rehabilitation of the failed portion of the road to prevent the loss of innocent lives on the road.

Similarly, motorists have challenged the State’s Ministry of the Environment to, as a matter of urgency, find a lasting solution to the flooding issue on the Oko-filling Bus Stop along Lagos State University (LASU), Igando Expressway.