In order to accomplish the planned reopening of the Third Mainland Bridge on February 22nd, 2021 after the completion of the on-going rehabilitation/maintenance works, the Lagos State Government has shifted the current diversion point on the bridge for motorists coming from Oworonsoki to Adekunle or Lagos Island.
In a statement issued over the weekend by the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, shifting the diversion point on the bridge is to allow the removal, replacement and casting of joint No. 23 in addition to joints 16 and 17, presently being fixed by the contractor.
He explained that the planned two-week temporary traffic flow adjustment shall be from midnight of January 15, 2021, to midnight of January 29, 2021, adding that the current traffic status shall then be reinstated from 12.01 hours of January 30, 2021.
The Commissioner, therefore, implored road users plying the corridor to note that there shall be no vehicular access from Iyana Oworosoki to Adekunle axis on the slip road/ramp down on the Third Mainland Bridge for the two-week period, and motorists from Ogudu, Alapere and Gbagada going to Adekunle axis should use Ikorodu Road, Jibowu and Yaba as alternative routes.
He continued that there shall be no access for vehicular movements from the Adekunle axis towards Iyana Oworosoki on Third Mainland Bridge during the period, adding that all Iyana Oworosoki bound traffic from Lagos Island, Iddo, Oyingbo, Adekunle and Yaba should use Herbert Macaulay Way, Jibowu and Ikorodu Road as alternative routes.
According to him, “The current crossover position on the bridge for Adekunle or Lagos Island-bound traffic from Iyana Oworosoki between 12 midnight and 12 noon will now be at the new point for two weeks. The current shared movement of 12 midnight to 12 noon for Lagos Island traffic bound from Iyana Oworosoki shall remain, while the current 1 pm to 12 midnight Mainland (Iyana Oworosoki) bound traffic flow from Lagos Island shall also be maintained”.
Oladeinde averred that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will continue to ensure the vigorous management of traffic control and enforcement on the Bridge as well as on the identified alternative routes.
LASTMA will ensure an endurable and acceptable traffic movement experience for motorists during the period while all previous traffic flow advisory measures put in place by the Lagos State Government for the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge remain the same.
While assuring that the bridge will be reopened to traffic flow as soon as possible, the Lagos State Government appealed to road users along the corridor to drive cautiously and follow the traffic advice in order to minimise the inconvenience caused by the ongoing rehabilitation.