Motorists and commuters plying the long bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway have begun to experience some relief as the first phase of rehabilitation work on both sides of the bridge is complete.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who visited the area on Monday, commended the contractors for the timely completion of the repair work.
Driving through both sides of the long-bridge portion of the expressway has been a horrible experience for motorists who spent hours in gridlock on the bridge as a result of the partial closure for repair work.
But few days to the deadline, the first phase of the rehabilitation has been completed and this, the Minister visited to ascertain.
Having received a brief of the technical details of the rehabilitation work, he said “as far as the work that has been done by our contractor on this Lagos-Sagamu bound section, so far so good”.
“For about 40 years since this road was opened, no major maintenance of the bridge had taken place and we have subjected it to very severe vehicle tonnage,” he said.
The Minister also commended motorists for their endurance, assuring of the federal government’s commitment to the completion of the expansion project within the stipulated time.
He added, however, that the work was not done yet.
“Its a 4,500 metre bridge on both sides and they still have to install some joints – about 44 on one side and 44 on the other side. So the work is not finished on this section of the bridge.”
