FG closes section of Third Mainland Bridge for repairs, announces alternative routes

The federal government has announced the partial shut down of the Iyana Oworonshoki-Adeniji Adele section of the Third Mainland Bridge for comprehensive rehabilitation works.

Olukorede Kesha, federal controller of works in Lagos, on Tuesday, supervised the closure to mark the beginning of the rehabilitation.

The closure is at the intersection where motorists coming from Ojota link the Third Mainland Bridge on the Island-bound carriageway.

Kesha said the closure of the bridge would be done in two phases daily, noting that  traffic will be diverted to different routes to give motorists opportunity to use the bridge as the rehabilitation works continue.

She added that the Mainland in-bound Lagos Island lane would be open from 12 a.m. to noon, while those who intend to come from the Island to the Mainland will use Eko Bridge.

She noted that from 12 p.m. to midnight, motorists would be able to access the bridge from the Island to the Mainland, while motorists from the Mainland heading towards the island would use Eko or Carter Bridge.

Kesha said the rehabilitation works, which will include replacement of some expansion joints and total replacement of asphalt would last between six to eight weeks.

She added that the closure was part of the ongoing work that commenced in November, 2023, focusing on fixing the ramps, and some repairs on the remaining parts of the bridge, including the underdeck and lagoon sections.

“Motorists from Iyana Oworo, Toll Gate, Ogudu or Ibadan can no longer use this axis (Island Bound carriageway) so they will have to go through Gbagada, Anthony-Ikorodu-Road-Western-Avenue, Funsho Williams to Carter Bridge or Eko Bridge going forward but this is going to be a daily thing,” Kesha said.

“So, in the morning, they have the access from 12 midnight to 12 noon the next day while in the afternoon, the Adeniji to Iyana Oworo bound have the free access from 1.00 p.m. thereabout till 12 midnight.”

She added that road signs would be added around detour points at Ojota and Oworonshoki in addition to traffic managers’ deployment to reduce challenges of road users.

“There will be 24 hours construction here, that is why it is fast-tracked to eight weeks,” the controller said.

Keisha expressed confidence that there would be seamless flow of traffic and management due to the collaboration with the traffic and law enforcement agencies.

She added that the flag-off of the rehabilitation would be done during the weekend by David Umahi, minister of works.

She urged motorists to obey traffic rules and use alternative routes.