SENATE President, David Mark, has warned that the Lagos Third
Mainland Bridge would be a major national disaster if allowed to collapse.
Mainland Bridge would be a major national disaster if allowed to collapse.
This is as the Senate will, today, debate a motion on the imminent
collapse of the bridge.
collapse of the bridge.
Senator Mark said “the bridge is an important edifice and its
collapse will be a major catastrophe, as many lives may be lost.”
collapse will be a major catastrophe, as many lives may be lost.”
The Third Mainland Bridge, measured 11.8 km and connected the
Mainland to Lagos Island, was commissioned by former military president,
General Ibrahim Babangida, in 1990.
Mainland to Lagos Island, was commissioned by former military president,
General Ibrahim Babangida, in 1990.
The Federal Ministry of Works completed repair works on the
bridge last October, after its closure to motorists and commuters for over four
months.
bridge last October, after its closure to motorists and commuters for over four
months.
At the plenary session on Wednesday, Senator Gbenga Ashafa from
Lagos East raised a point of order to bring to the attention of the Senate the
state of the bridge, adding that he would want an urgent remedial measures to
be taken.
Lagos East raised a point of order to bring to the attention of the Senate the
state of the bridge, adding that he would want an urgent remedial measures to
be taken.
He said the consultant who carried out the post-assessment of
the repair works of the bridge discovered that the repair work on its
foundation was not properly done.
the repair works of the bridge discovered that the repair work on its
foundation was not properly done.
Ashafa said the consultant discovered that the bridge “could
collapse today, tomorrow, next year, five or 10 years and, therefore, there is
the urgent need to discuss the imminent collapse.”
collapse today, tomorrow, next year, five or 10 years and, therefore, there is
the urgent need to discuss the imminent collapse.”
The repair of the Third Mainland Bridge before it was re-opened
last year reportedly gulped N1.5 billion, including repairs at eight expansion
joints of both sides of the bridge.
last year reportedly gulped N1.5 billion, including repairs at eight expansion
joints of both sides of the bridge.
Source: Tribune
