3rd Mainland Bridge: Lagos Assembly Summons Works Controller, Contractor

The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the management of Julius Berger and the Federal Controller of Works for Lagos State to appear before it and explain the true state of the Third Mainland Bridge. They are expected to appear before the House on Monday.

While Julius Berger, the construction giant which built the bridge is to come and explain the current state of the bridge, the Federal Controller of Works is to explain why the rehabilitation of the road was postponed indefinitely.

Lagosians were bracing up for the challenges that would result from the partial closure of the bridge for repairs when the government again postponed it.

Though it was not clear why the government took the decision, sources said it was as a result of improper planning of what to do by the Federal Government.

The motion to invite the contractor and the controller to the House was moved by the Chief Whip, Razak Balogun, who drew the attention of his colleagues to the danger posed by the bridge.

Balogun, who raised the issue under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, expressed worries that the bridge may have been facing serious pressures that may lead to disaster if not quickly addressed.

Recalling that the bridge was built in 1990 when the population of the State was barely five million, Balogun said the about 12 kilometre bridge has long been due for repairs.

”Many times when I ply that bridge, I’m afraid because I don’t even know what section of the bridge is safe. “I did a research recently on bridges and what I heard was very worrisome,” Balogun said.

His words: “From the research, I have able to discover that the overall structural condition is graded between 0 to above 70. For any bridge, below 70 is not good at all adding that the expansion joints on the bridge were already giving way.

”I know when they proposed this maintenance, there was a lot of cry about the huge traffic situation that would follow, but I’m worried that like too many things in our country, we would not take action until a disaster happens.

”If you stand on that bridge, you would see how much it vibrates and you would be scared that this is the bridge we all pass. “If we do not take this matter very seriously, God forbid,” Balogun lamented.

Culled from VANGUARD

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