There is some good news and respite for agitated Lagosians who were already dreading the planned closure of the 3rd Mainland Bridge for 3 days beginning Friday July 27, 2018.
A statement from the ministry of Power, Works and Housing signed by Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser Communication at the ministry says the investigative closure has been moved to August 24, 2018.
In the hiatus, tankers will be diverted to a 300 capacity park in Apapa to free up the Oshodi/Apapa expressway.
The shift according to the statement the shift was arrived at “after due consultations with the Lagos State Government and wide deliberations with other relevant stakeholders adding that the date shift was done “in order to give succour and relief to the people of Lagos State.”
See the statement in full:
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF POWER, WORKS AND HOUSING
PRESS RELEASE
THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE CLOSURE FOR MAINTENANCE TESTS NOW SHIFTED TO AUGUST 24
· As FG directs immediate deployment of trucks to 300-capacity trailer park as part of efforts to decongest Oshodi-Apapa Expressway
The three day closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for Investigative Maintenance Test earlier slated to begin on July 27, 2018, has been shifted to August 24 the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has announced. The Shutdown, earlier scheduled to last from July 27 to July 30 will now last from August 24 to August 26, 2018.
In a Press Statement, Fashola said the shift in the date was arrived at after due consultations with the Lagos State Government and wide deliberations with other relevant stakeholders adding that the date shift was done “in order to give succour and relief to the people of Lagos State and other inter-state road users and support the efforts of the State Government.”
On the efforts to decongest the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Fashola said, in the short term, he has directed the immediate deployment of trucks to the trailer park being constructed by the Ministry with the capacity to accommodate about 300 trucks while construction works for the shoreline protection continues.
Also, the on-going palliative work on the sections of the Apapa-Oshodi Road , the on-going construction of the road leading to the Apapa Port from Ijora will soon be completed while the main exit route through Tincan – Oshodi – Oworonshoki is under procurement for award. When completed, the project will enable free flow of traffic in the axis.
Also following the visit of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to Lagos in connection with the Apapa Port Gridlock, the Federal Government has said, as a short term measure, a call up system in the control of truck movement would be introduced adding that it would be initially manual while the long term digital and ICT based system would be developed and deployed. The Association of Truck Owners has agreed to manage the manual system with their members who are truck operators, government also said.
HAKEEM BELLO
SPECIAL ADVISER,
COMMUNICATIONS
TO THE HON. MINISTER
24TH JULY, 2018