Before We Close The 3rd Mainland Bridge*
by Prince Adeyemi Aseperi-Shonibare
L-R: Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola; Hon. Minister of Works, Power and Housing and Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Governor, Lagos State
AN OPEN LETTER TO:
The Executive Governor Of Lagos State,
Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode,
Alausa,
Ikeja,
Lagos.
Dear Sir,
*Before We Close The 3rd Mainland Bridge*
Sequel to the notification that the popular and busy Lagos 3rd Mainland bridge will be closed from midnight of Thursday, August 23rd to the midnight of Sunday, August 26th, for investigative maintainance test, we write to notify you that there are things to be done before this activity could go on.
Recall that the Federal Government had earlier announced plans to shut the bridge in July, but had to be shelved after due consultation with the state government and wide deliberations with other stakeholders, who expressed concern about the indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles on other alternative routes which would have adversely affected traffic.
Subsequently, a Joint Task Force set up to remove the articulated vehicles from the highway was said to have been able to achieve tremendous success, but this is far from being the true state of things.
A check at the Lagos-Ikorodu Road shows that tanker drivers are still holding a part of that road to ransom. Yes! This is the true nature of that road. If the 3rd mainland bridge is closed, there is no way Lagosians can withstand the kind of hardship that will accompany it. Motorists moving from mainland to the Island who will be left with no choice than the Lagos-Ikorodu Road via Stadium-Constain will have a hellish time moving to the Island.
So, these tanker drivers menance must be completely taken care of, road properly cleared for easy access to the Island since the mainland bridge will be closed.
Again, the only alternative route that Lagos State government will be banking on since the bridge will be blocked is the Lagos-Ikorodu road. But, a critical look at the road showed that the level of potholes, and at some levels big gullies, from Mile 12, Ikorodu Road to CMS to Bonny Camp is unimaginable. Same thing with Muritala Muhammed Road is equally very bad . It’s worse anytime it rains. These should have been fixed before closing the bridge.
Look at Leventis to Silverbird Galleria, overhead bridges and at some point the light rail construction is making motorists pass through hell along those routes and blocking this most used bridge will further compound the hardship being experienced there already.
The decision jointly taken by the Lagos State’s Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Akinsanya and the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to close down the 3rd mainland bridge is an excellent idea for assessment and repairs.
Therefore, we will advise your Excellence sir, to please fix the problems on some of the alternative routes you talked about before we close the 3rd Mainland bridge.
Itesiwaju Eko lojewalogun
Well done for all the wonderful job you are doing in Lagos state.
Cc. Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing
Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola
Cc. Lagos State Commissioner Works and Infrastructure,
Mr Ade Akinsanya
