The Federal Government has said that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos is safe for use contrary to a Facebook video clip spreading fears about the bridge.A
by Special Adviser on Communications to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Hakeem Bello, on behalf of the ministry under the supervision of Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the expansion joint being speculated to be dangerous was among those slated for repairs.He said the bridge is very safe for the motorists to ply pending the commencement of the repair works.
“The public is hereby informed that the expansion joint shown in a Facebook video clip is one of those slated for change during repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge, which will commence soon. It is still functioning and our engineers and consultants have advised that it does not pose any structural danger to the bridge and it is safe to use”. This was the statement made by Mr Bello.
Tests done on the expansion joints then, called ‘static and dynamic load tests,’ were to check the functionality of the joints and a number of expansion joints were identified for replacement. In March 2019, underwater confirmatory tests preceding the repair works to be done on the bridge were also carried out on the piles to determine any further deterioration on the piles from that done in 2018.
The ministry also emphasised that the expansion joints to be replaced are part of a regular bridge maintenance programme that had been neglected for decades, but now being done by the present administration. Such maintenance works include resurfacing of the bridge, along with several others, which tell administration is also undertaking
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr. Adedamola Kuti, spoke on the issue and said the joints were identified during the last check, hence the need for further repair works.He used the medium to assure motorists of the safety of the bridge saying that the joints had been captured during the last inspection.