The Federal Government says it will be embarking on another round of repair work on the 3rd Mainland Bridge, Lagos, as part of the routine to ensuring the bridge remain in position to serve the motoring public.
This is revealed in a statement from the federal ministry of Power, Works and Housing, superintendent over by Babatunde Fashola, on Sunday.
According to the ministry, the repair work will involve changing some expansion joints, but added that the bridge, however, is very safe for the motorists to ply pending the commencement of the work.
“The general public is hereby informed that the expansion joint shown in a Facebook video clip, is one of those slated for change during repairs to the Third Mainland Bridge which will commence soon. It is still functioning and our engineers and consultants have advised that it does not pose any structural danger to the bridge and it is safe to use” the statement reads.
It will be recalled that the Third Mainland Bridge was shut down for a 3-day investigative maintenance in August 2018.
Tests done on the expansion joints then, referred to as ‘static and dynamic load tests’ were to check the functionality of the jointremaing the tests, a number of expansion joints were identified for replacement.
More recently, in March this year, underwater confirmatory tests preceding the repair works to be done on the bridge, were also carried out on the piles to determine any further deterioration on the piles from that done in 2018.
However, all the tests done preparatory to closure of the bridge to commencement of comprehensive maintenance works indicate that the integrity of the bridge is intact.
“Therefore the Third Mainland Bridge is safe for use, and people should desist from spreading or sharing false information about the bridge on social media platforms,” the ministry advised.
It reiterated that the expansion joints to be replaced are part of a regular bridge maintenance programme that has been neglected for decades, but now being done by the present administration.
“Such maintenance works include resurfacing of the bridge, along with several others, which this administration is also undertaking as the bridge users will attest to a better driving surface,” it said.
JOSHUA BASSEY
