The Honorable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has directed the immediate reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos to vehicular traffic.
PACESETTER reports that according to a statement by Engr. (Mrs.) O. I. Kesha, Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, the Minister’s directive follows the earlier closure of the bridge for planned maintenance and rehabilitation works.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure palliative works are carried out on the already opened bridge to make it motorable .
“The Ministry hereby express regret for the inconvenience caused to the motoring public by the closure and appealed for their understanding and cooperation”, part of the statement read.
The Federal Ministry of Works clarified that the necessary repair works on the bridge would be carried out at a later time.
Speaking with Punch, the controller stated that her team is already working to implement remedial measures to reopen the bridge for vehicular traffic, as parts of the bridge have already been damaged.
She was, however, uncertain if commuters would be able to use the bridge tomorrow but assured that her team is working overnight to ease vehicular movement.
She said, “Yes, that is true. The minister has directed me to open it. But as it is we are trying to see how we can do remedial measures so that we can open the bridge for vehicular movement because we have already broken parts of the bridge.
“We are still unsure if commuters will be able to use it tomorrow. But we are currently working overnight to do some remedial work. We are working on that. The destruction had gone a bit far, but all hands are on deck to, hopefully by tomorrow, open the bridge to traffic.”
Recall that the federal government had announced plans to close the Independence Bridge (Marina bound) in Lagos State for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works. It said the bridge would remain closed until the end of May 2025.
This development caused heavy gridlock in Lagos yesterday as commuters complained, with some getting to their homes as late as 2am today.