The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola on Monday said that contrary to what has been reported, the Third Mainland Bridge will not be shut down from July but that diversions will take place depending on what sections of the road will be worked upon.

He urged residents of the State not to entertain any needless fear about the impending repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge, saying it is all about proper management of the situation.

Mr Fashola who spoke in an interview with State House Correspondents at Lagos House, Ikeja said that it is a process which has taken place before and when it took place the people went through it and it was managed successfully even though there were some traffic.

“Let us remember that we have done this before. Two years ago four joints were fixed and I think we managed the traffic by communicating with our people. So, contrary to what has been reported, it is not a total closure but a partial closure.

“But let us contextualize it; we are better off today than we were when we did it, at that time we diverted traffic mainly to Funsho Williams, Western Avenue, Ikorodu Road and also Murtala Mohammed Way and through Carter Bridge into Lagos Island and out. Remember that at the time this happened we were constructing those two roads. Now they have been finished.

“So in terms of roads infrastructure, we are better off now than when we first undertook the repairs and managed it successfully, so it should be less painful. We have also agreed with the Federal Ministry of Works and chosen this period so that we will utilize the time the students are on vacation”.

The governor reiterated that the repair works will start hopefully on July 1st but that much of the work will deepen during the period when the school pupils are expected to be on holidays and that the traffic impact is expected to reduce.

He added that the work will continue till after the school children resume but that government is targeting “that before the end of year rush and traffic starts mounting by October to November, we would have finished so that people will have a pleasurable and comfortable drive on that bridge in and out of Lagos”.

Mr Fashola said the road will also save the residents the wear and tear on their suspension and shock absorber, adding that it is in their own interest for it to be repaired and that they should not panic.

He said that State has a Radio station dedicated to traffic issues. He said that when the Third Mainland Bridge first underwent repairs, there was no Traffic Radio in the state which is now available to enable information and movement to be communicated regularly.

ballabriggs: If they had completed the fourth mainland bridge, the people of Lagos would not go through the pain they about to experience. Hope LASTMA would be on ground though.

espn: wetin dis 1 dey talk..off point..park well abeg!

ballabriggs: If they had completed the fourth mainland bridge, the people of Lagos would not go through the pain they about to experience. Hope LASTMA would be on ground though.

clemmonce: see one typical nigerian talkin about 4th mainland bridge wat about u maintainin wat u hav. abeg go buy some sense 4 yaba it is nt too expensive.

ballabriggs: If they had completed the fourth mainland bridge, the people of Lagos would not go through the pain they about to experience. Hope LASTMA would be on ground though.

Keneking: Ozumba Mbadiwe part has been scrapped, the entire stretch from close to American Embassy to Radisson Blue has returned to the state it was during the Colonial era. an alternative route is Lagos(ojodu) - Ijebu - Epe - Lekki - V/Island. I tried it and spend just two hours thirty minutes at 80KM/PH.

As for me, I want FRSC to direct traffic on the bridge and LASTMA to check out for One-Way drivers. The lastma team can also give bottled waters to passers-by and drivers sweating on their seat.

ballabriggs: If they had completed the fourth mainland bridge, the people of Lagos would not go through the pain they about to experience. Hope LASTMA would be on ground though.

wise_many2k:

It seems you're not in lag or you wan enter lagos 4 d 1st time in ur life tomorrow cos wat u just said don't make sense. this aint d 1st time d bridge will be partially closed for repairs and it wont be d last time. Maintenance shld be a national culture. Dey open one side of the bridge and close the other. They even go as far as alternating routes and block heavy trucks from passing through the bridge during repairs.

I remember wen d bridge was partially closed for repairs in 2009 when i was still in lag. It didn't kill us and the traffic was not d worst lag has ever experienced so guys shld just support the govt.



Before asking dumb questions, do you pay your tax? Do you pay you bills appropriately? Do you live responsibly in lag (dat's if u're in lag)? Before u post on NL, kindly follow the steps below:

1) Type....

2) Read through....

3) Edit....

4) Read through again....

5) Call a friend to help check if your comment makes sense....

6) Post your comment.

Bash Me:

Nice Response Bruv... E be like dat guy wey dey complain carry too much hair above hin head wey now don cover hin brain. Make una tell am make hin try cut/shave am comot 4 am to acquire small sense sef if not average. Omo Jonathan Jati jati... Wetin ur PDP don do?

Keneking: Seun- beware ACN boiz have hijacked your media platform.

berem: pls where is the 1st and 2nd mainland bridges located? just asking pls!

4bobo:
carter, eko bridges

ballabriggs:

Now listen, I like Fash, I value the little he has achieved in Lagos during his tenure, however, that does not mean we are not going to criticize them. At every election period, Tinubu, Fash and the ACN come selling the fourth mainland to the people in order to secure their votes. To me, this is patronizing. It is easy for people who live around Oworoshoki, Surulere, Yaba and Ikeja to get to the Island even with this closure. What of the very low earning workers who live on the outskirts in Ikorodu, Igando and Okoko. It is going to be a nightmare for these people. If Lagos had built this bridge this would not have been the case.


If Lagos reduces the graft in the system, there would be resources for a fourth mainland bridge. I say this because I personally know how people who work in the Lagos government have risen to stupendous wealth with no verifiable source of income. I know what Gbenga Ashafa for example looked like before he became the DG Lands.

I like Fash, however, we have to be objective when assessing him.

Are you an idi0t not to know the traffic situation in Lagos when the third mainland bridge is opened? Now imagine what it looks like with a partial closure.

Tinubu, Fashola and the ACN had always made the fourth mainland bridge a part of their campaign promise since 1999. The fourth mainland was intended to ease the pressure on the other existing bridges. Why has it not been fulfilled after 13 years?

ballabriggs:

Are you an idi0t not to know the traffic situation in Lagos when the third mainland bridge is opened? Now imagine what it looks like with a partial closure.

Tinubu, Fashola and the ACN had always made the fourth mainland bridge a part of their campaign promise since 1999. The fourth mainland was intended to ease the pressure on the other existing bridges. Why has it not been fulfilled after 13 years?

ballabriggs:

Are you an idi0t not to know the traffic situation in Lagos when the third mainland bridge is opened? Now imagine what it looks like with a partial closure.

Tinubu, Fashola and the ACN had always made the fourth mainland bridge a part of their campaign promise since 1999. The fourth mainland was intended to ease the pressure on the other existing bridges. Why has it not been fulfilled after 13 years?

Keneking: Ozumba Mbadiwe part has been scrapped, the entire stretch from close to American Embassy to Radisson Blue has returned to the state it was during the Colonial era. an alternative route is Lagos(ojodu) - Ijebu - Epe - Lekki - V/Island. I tried it and spend just two hours thirty minutes at 80KM/PH.

As for me, I want FRSC to direct traffic on the bridge and LASTMA to check out for One-Way drivers. The lastma team can also give bottled waters to passers-by and drivers sweating on their seat.