The replacement of the eight expansion joints on the Third Mainland Bridge may be completed ahead of the Nov. 7, 2012 deadline because of the level of work currently going on.
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The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, said this after inspecting the work in Lagos on Friday.
He said, “The inspection is to track the progress that the contractor has made; whether actual progress is in line with our planned programme. I am happy to announce that the physical progress isnot only in line with our programme, there has been a gain of approximately one week, which is very commendable.
“It means that if we sustain the momentum, we will be able to deliver the project ahead of the scheduled delivery time of Nov. 7, 2012.”
The contract for the replacement of the joints was awarded in 2011 at over N1bn but the contractor, Messrs Boroni Prono and Company Ltd was mobilised to site on July 6, 2012, leading to the partial closure of the bridge at certain times of the day.
Onolememen said the FG decided to rehabilitate the bridge, which is the longest and most travelled in the country, because of its commitment to giving due attention to infrastructure in Lagos State, which he said, attracted about 53 per cent of commercial activities in the country.
As part of the FG’s investment in road infrastructure in the former nation’s capital, the minister said, “The Economic Management Team recently recommended the accelerated completion of work and additional work on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. Only two days ago, the Federal Executive Council approved the transaction advisory consultancy services for the expansion and modernisation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport approach road to give a befitting approach to Nigeria by visitors coming to the country for the first time.
“The road is to be expanded into eight lanes modern expressway with all the requisite road furniture and other associated facilities. I am optimistic that by the first quarter of next year, the groundbreaking of the MMIA approach road will be done.”
He also said the FEC and the Ministry of Works were committed to completing all roads leading to refineries and oil depots across the country with Lagos benefiting from that initiative with the scheduled completion of the approach road to the Ejigbo depot, while the access road to the Mosimi depot in Ikorodu area, which has been in deplorable condition, would also be given due attention.
Onolememen said the Federal Road Maintenance Agency had been directed to pay attention to the maintenance of key road infrastructure in Lagos to drive the nation’s economy.
“I believe that as soon as the rains abate in Lagos, FERMA will step in, in an unusual way to deliver on the mandate we have given it. I want to thank Lagos residents for their understanding and cooperation on the many Federal Government projects in Lagos, especially the closure of the Third Mainland Bridge and the associated stress it has caused them,” he said.
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