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Fashola directs reopening of Eko and Marina Bridges in Lagos

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Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has directed that the two newly repaired bridges in Lagos- Eko and Marine Bridges be opened to traffic effective Monday, October 19, 2020.

The Minister gave this directive on Friday following the submission of the report by Messrs. Buildwell Plant & Equipment Industries Limited, the contractor that handled the project. The report indicated that the first phase of the repair had been completed 100 per cent.

Fashola thanked Lagosians for their patience, understanding and cooperation during the period of the repairs. He charged the contractor to ensure that the public is well informed about any restriction in traffic when the second phase of the repair work commences.

The minister added that while the completed section of the Eko Bridge (Lagos Island Bound) should be reopened to traffic, work would commence immediately on the Alaka Bound side of the project.

Explaining further on the next phase of repair works on the bridges, the Director Highways (Bridges & Designs) in the ministry, Engr. Emmanuel Adeoye, said work was taking off without the need for either partial or complete closure of the bridges, adding, however, that the public would be informed adequately should such a step become necessary.

The 1,350 metre Eko Bridge, built in phases between 1965 and 1975, links the Lagos Island to the Mainland. It was closed to traffic in March this year in order to replace faulty joints and bearings. But, as a result of COVID-19 lockdown, actual repair works commenced in the first week of June.

Work commenced in May on the first of the three phases in which repair works on the Marine Bridge was divided. The repairs on the bridge, which is part of a network of complex bridges with several loops taking traffic in and out of the Apapa area of Lagos, included jacketing and skin repairs of the piers, lifting the bridge section deck in order to change the electrometric bearing, milling and placing a new wearing course of asphalt among others.

The repair works on the Eko and Marine Bridges is part of the ongoing Federal Government’s Bridge Maintenance Programme which involves the repairs and rehabilitation of over 37 bridges nationwide with a substantial number already completed while others are at different stages of completion.

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