THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE SAFE — FG

THE Federal Governemt has, again, declared that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos is not going to collapse.

The government made this known at the weekend, through the Federal Ministry of Works, to allay the fears expressed by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos State.

The Federal Ministry of Works, in a report, entitled: “Federal Ministry of Works’ Report on the Third Mainland Bridge,” at the weekend, dismissed claims credited to Senator Ashafa that the Third Mainland Bridge  might collapse soon.

While speaking on the reports of the safety of the bridge, which is widely believed to be the busiest in West Africa, the Director of Highway Design (Bridges), Federal Ministry of Works, Aniete Effiong, said “the ministry has taken proactive steps, in line with its mandate to ensure that the Third Mainland Bridge, a very important infrastructure investment of government, is protected and kept in an acceptable service state.”

The bridge, according to Effiong, was 11.8 km long and was constructed in two sections.

The first section, from Lagos Island to Ebute Metta (Adeniji Adele Interchange–Adekunle Interchange), which has a box girder arrangement cantilevered from the pier to the mid-span, was completed in 1979 by PGH, a consortium made up of Messrs Borini Prono, Messrs Girola and Messrs Hiconi.

The second section from Ebute Metta to Oworonshoki, which was later completed in 1990 by Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is a multi-span structure.

Effiong observed that the Third Mainland Bridge was a vital artery of the network of Federal Highways and commanded high patronage in Lagos Municipal Area, considering the importance of the city as the major commercial centre in the country.

Source: Tribune