The Lagos State Government has stated that the Third Mainland Bridge will be completely closed for 24 hours to allow the contractor to complete a significant part of the bridge’s ongoing repairs.
This comes more than a week after the Federal Government commenced repair work on the Iyana Oworonshoki to Lagos end of the bridge and completed repairs on the bridge’s reverse carriageway.
The Federal Ministry of Works’ shutdown was announced in a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, on Monday, February 26, 2024.
According to Osiyemi’s announcement, the closure would effect both carriageways from 12 noon on Wednesday, February 28 until 12 noon on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
The commissioner recommended all road users to use the alternate routes already offered during this time because the bridge would be closed to traffic for 24 hours.
Osiyemi promised motorists that traffic control officials will be on the ground to manage traffic and minimise disturbance.
The bridge has been under repair since January, with partial closures for both inbound and outbound traffic.
In January 2024, the federal government closed the Iyana Oworonshoki-Adeniji Adele section of the Third Mainland Bridge to allow for comprehensive rehabilitation work on the complete bridge.
The Third Mainland is said to be Africa’s second-largest bridge, stretching approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) to connect Lagos Island, the city’s business core, to the mainland, where the majority of people live.
The bridge was finished in 1991 under the regime of former Military President Ibrahim Babangida.