As plans have beenconcluded to partially close the Third Mainland Bridge today July 24thby midnight, Lagosians have expressed worry over the traffic difficulties that
will result from the closure. Many residents of Lagos State are jittery inexpectation of human and vehicular traffic that will be experienced on all thealternative roads approved by the government.However, the LagosState Government has assured Lagosians of minimal burden as it partially closesthe 3rd Mainland Bridge for repairs for the next six months.Babajide Sannwo-Olu gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving thenew Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Lagos, OlusegunOgungbemide, on a courtesy visit at the State House, Marina.
Mr Sanwo-Olu appealed to residents to exercise patience and bear thediscomfort that would be experienced from the partial closure, which wouldbegin on Friday evening.
He said that the closure of the 11.8km bridge – the busiest in the country –was inevitable, following physical deterioration observed on the structure,after an integrity test conducted by the Federal Government.
According to him, the closure of the bridge will bring about pain, but thedevelopment is necessary to prevent disaster that may result from the totalcollapse of the infrastructure.
He promised that men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority(LASTMA) would constantly be on the road with their Federal counterparts toensure seamless movement of vehicles during the period.
Mr Sanwo-Olu said the state government had carried out improvement work on
alternative routes mapped out for diversions.