The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Olukayode Popoola disclosed this during an interview with the newsmen on Monday.

According to him, consultations were on for another phase of repair works to commence on the Third Mainland Bridge. 

“We want to do maintenance work on the Third Mainland Bridge very soon. Most likely on the 24th. We may close it from the 24th of July.

“We are still working out the modalities and when we perfect the traffic management plan we will move to site. “Everything being expected for the repairs of the bridge arrived the country that is why we want to start the repairs now,’’ he said.

The 11.8km bridge which has gone through series of rehabilitation works was last closed for repairs in August 2018 for 3 days of investigative maintenance check. 

Thereafter, some components needed for completion of repairs were sourced abroad because they were not available locally. 

NAN reports that the bridge which has gone through series of rehabilitation works was last shut in August 2018 for a three days investigative maintenance check.

Thereafter, some components needed for completion of repairs were sourced abroad because they were not available locally.

The Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland. 

The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. 

It was opened for use in 1990 and was the longest in Africa until 1996 when The 6th October Bridge in Cairo was completed. 

Fashola, while inspecting the project with the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, disclosed that the reconstruction of the road would be completed by the end of 2020.

He said the plan was to complete the expressway in record time to reduce congestion of trucks going to the ports and ease traffic on that axis, noting that the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the road, which will cost about N73bn, will create multiple employment opportunities.

“All these roads have a completion period of 24 months and we have already spent one year on the road,” he added.

Fashola stated that businesses were gradually returning to the Apapa area following the reconstruction of roads on the axis.

He said, “Businesses have started coming back on Liverpool Road because the road closed earlier is now back. You will see more of that. All of the businesses that are shut on Creek Road will come back. We expect to see property redevelopment and property renewal once the road is completed.

“Once the economy of Apapa returns, all the clearing and forwarding, shipping, newspaper companies and all others doing business will resume fully and the economy will bounce back.”

The minister also stated that section two of the project which was not part of the original contract, was already showing signs of failure, due to heavy traffic.

“We are at the Oshodi area now and one side has been concluded and opened to traffic and this is how we intend to continue to complete and open, until we finish the entire road,” he added.

Fashola also appealed to road users to be patient during the period of the construction.

Dangote said many companies left the area because of the bad roads and congestion at the ports, adding that in 2017 and 2018, his companies lost over N25bn.

“The reconstruction of the road is already bringing business back to the environment. Before now, the bad roads had crippled economic activities on that axis especially around Apapa,” he said.