Press Releases

Fashola Assures On Third Mainland Bridge Repairs, Flood Control

Jul 19, 2008 - Lagos State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Saturday appealed to the residents of the state to display a high level of understanding during the eight weeks that vehicular movement on the Third Mainland bridge will be diverted.

The Governor who spoke during a chat with newsmen at Akoka added that the Lagos and Federal Governments have put every plan in place to ensure that the repair work which is scheduled to commence on August 2 is done on schedule with minimal discomfort to the people.

Said he: “The success of this job depends on the understanding of the people, their patience and forbearance as these is the only way we can address the fears they have expressed over the safety of the bridge”.

Recalling that the State Government as a responsive administration has hearkened to the concerns raised by lagosians last year over the safety of the bridge, Governor added that the State Government is on top of the situation and has also held a meeting on Saturday with officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and the contractors and both sides are working as a team on the project.

He explained that the Third Mainland bridge will not be totally closed as only the side from Ikeja to Lagos will be affected by the maintenance repairs about to be carried out, adding that traffic would be diverted from the junction of Adekunle intersection.

He reiterated that the government expects motorists to use the outward Lagos side to get into Lagos and then have the traffic reversed in the afternoon to take traffic out when it is less.

In his words: “If you use the Third Mainland bridge very well, you will realize that the traffic going out in the morning to Ikeja is not as heavy as those going in to Lagos . We expect people to use other routes like Western Avenue , Eko Bridge and Ikorodu road in the morning when going to Ikeja instead of the normal Third Mainland bridge”.

“We should all understand why we are doing these, we don’t want the bridge to collapse, we don’t want lives to be lost. It is as if we are fasting, we have once fasted for 40 days and seven days in this country. We must forbear”.

Governor Fashola said the successful completion of the repair work during the period will depend on understanding of the people, their patience and the level of cooperation that can be displayed.

He added that the state is also asking major companies and organizations with large workforce and vehicular fleet located on the island to pool vehicles in such a way that people who live in same neighbourhood can take joint rides and reduce the number of personal cars that would be on the road during the period.

On the recent traffic snarl experienced in parts of the state on account of flash flooding, he assured everyone that there is no cause for worry about the level of rainfall which the state has witnessed in the two months, adding that the task of clearing the drains the canals and building drains is a painstaking work which must be done systematically.

He said the state government is working day and night in the sun and in the rain and measuring the progress being recorded.

Said he: “I assure you that the situation is under control. Our hands are not stopping .we will continue to work through the raining season in to the dry weather again. In some areas where we have finished our work, the communities are benefiting and not experiencing flood and in areas with some work still to be done, progress are being made”

‘All over the world, there is global warming. Last night on CNN, there was very heavy rain in Taiwan which measured about 300millimeter and the whole of Taiwan was submerged by the rainfall and not flood.”, he added.

The Lagos State helmsman explained that, “it has been raining since May ending in Lagos and we haven’t had this kind of major discomfort. We are working at trying to improve the situation. It won’t go away in one day neither will it go away in one month. It is painstaking work and I can assure Lagosians that we have the situation under control.”