The Lagos State Government has announced there would be a shift in the current vehicle diversion point on the Third Mainland Bridge for motorists coming from Oworonshoki to Adekunle or Lagos Island, as that part of the bridge will be shut for 2 weeks starting from midnight of Friday, January 15.
This was disclosed in a statement released over the weekend by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde.
Oladeinde explained that this is in order to accomplish the reopening of the Third Mainland Bridge on February 22nd, 2021.
The shifting diversion point on the bridge is to allow the removal, replacement and casting of joint No. 23, in addition to joints 16 and 17 presently being fixed by the contractor.
The Commissioner explained that the planned 2-week temporary traffic flow adjustment shall be from midnight of January 15, 2021, to midnight of January 29, 2021, adding that the current traffic status shall then be reinstated from 12.01 hours of January 30, 2021.
Going further, the commissioner pointed out that there shall be no vehicular access from Iyana Oworosoki to Adekunle axis on the slip road/ramp down on the Third Mainland Bridge for the 2-week period, and motorists from Ogudu, Alapere and Gbagada going to Adekunle axis should use Ikorodu Road, Jibowu and Yaba as alternative routes.
He also said that there would be no access for vehicular movements from the Adekunle axis towards Iyana Oworosoki on Third Mainland Bridge during the period, adding that all Iyana Oworosoki bound traffic from Lagos Island, Iddo, Oyingbo, Adekunle and Yaba should use Herbert Macaulay Way, Jibowu and Ikorodu Road as alternative routes.
Oladeinde reiterated that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) would continue to ensure the vigorous management of traffic control and enforcement on the bridge as well as on the identified alternative routes.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) expressed that discussions are also on with traffic management agencies to evolve a perfect management plan to avert gridlock. He appealed for the understanding of road users as the construction works progress.