Third Mainland Bridge
The Lagos State Government Wednesday asked the federal government to conduct a comprehensive underwater test on the Third Mainland Bridge to ascertain its structural integrity and stability.
The state government also explained why the timeline to start toll collection at the Conservation Toll Plaza, the second tollgate erected along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, was suspended last December, noting that it was due to the agreement brokered with the stakeholders along the corridor.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, expressed the standpoint in Alausa, at a ministerial briefing organised to mark the sixth anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) in office.
Hamzat noted that toll collection would commence at the plaza at the appropriate time.
He stated the urgent need for the federal government to conduct an underwater investigation on the Third Mainland Bridge, saying failure to maintain the infrastructure would undermine the stability of the bridge.
According to him, “the federal government has to go back and check the bridge. It has to do underwater investigation to ascertain the stability of the bridge. The bridge will not last if not well-maintained.”
Hamzat, who addressed the briefing alongside the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure to the governor, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, tasked the federal government to pay the N51 billion spent to maintain federal roads within the state.
He added that he could not explain why the federal government had not paid what it “still owes the state government. If the money is paid, it will help the state government to complete such projects as Ago-Palace Way Road, Ejigbo-Idimu road and Ayobo-Ipaja road among others.”
Hamzat, however, also stated that the state government had been able to create 49,742 jobs through its policy designed to patronise local contractors and at the time develop manpower in strategic sectors like construction.
He, therefore, put the number of road projects currently being implemented across the state at 261, noting that 161 projects were awarded in 2012 while 100 others took off under the current fiscal regime.
Of the 261 awarded projects, the commissioner noted that 82 roads equivalent of 112.75 kilometres “had been fully completed while 255 roads totalling 210.26 kilometres are yet to be completed.”
He also identified the challenges undermining infrastructure development in the state to include topography, residents’ attitude and what he described as quantum of fund portfolio required to prosecute the projects.
He explained that the state topography “poses major challenges to infrastructure development, especially roads. We are constantly conducting soil test. Many road projects are subject to massive soil replacement. All these have enormous cost implications for the road projects.”
He condemned the habit of indiscriminate dumping of waste on the roads and drainages and activities of roadside mechanics and car-wash operators.
He mentioned lack of public ownership of infrastructure and conveyance of axle loads on inner roads designed specifically for lighter vehicles.
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