Third Mainland Bridge

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Third Mainland Bridge
Aerial-shot-of-makoko-community-in-lagos-3-third-mainland-bridge-aview2.jpg
Coordinates 6°30′00″N3°24′05″E / 6.5°N 3.4014°E / 6.5; 3.4014
CarriesVehicular Traffic
Crosses Lagos Lagoon
(connects Lagos Island to Lagos Mainland)
Locale Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Official nameIbrahim Babangida Bridge
Characteristics
Total length11.8 km (7.3 miles)
History
Constructed by Julius Berger, PGH Venture
Opened1990;35 years ago (1990)
Statistics
Daily traffic very high
TollNo
Location
Third Mainland Bridge

Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, the others are the Eko and Carter bridges. [1] It was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge located in Cairo was completed. The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and Oshodi–Apapa Expressway, and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. [2] There is also a link midway through the bridge that leads to Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC. The phase one of the project was commissioned by President Shehu Shagari in 1980 and completed by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990; it measures about 11.8 km in length.

By 2006, many commuters had reported that the Third Mainland Bridge was vibrating noticeably, indicating that it needed urgent attention. [3] As a result, remedial work was commenced on portions of the bridge at different times, leading to intermittent partial closure of the bridge. [4] In January 2013, this work was completed.

Recently, there have been rumours of cracks on the bridge. This, however, was denied by authorities. [5] The eight-lane bridge experienced a new look during the last repairing exercise, painting the bridge guide with the colours of Nigeria: green, white, green, and also general painting was done out for a new look. The repair works on the bridge were completed and the bridge was reopened on 30 October 2012.

The Third Mainland Bridge has very high vehicular traffic on weekdays, as many residents commute to and from the Lagos Mainland to the Island, which is the commercial hub of Lagos State. Residents in Ikeja, Agboyi-Ketu, Ikorodu, Isheri, Oworonshoki, Gbagada, Yaba, Maryland and Oshodi often use the bridge on their daily commutes. The Third Mainland Bridge is an essential part of Lagos' daily commuting, and as such requires to be constantly renovated. It has also come to be a major Lagos icon, offering different views of Lagos—the Lagos Lagoon, the University of Lagos waterfront and Makoko, a shanty town built on the Lagos Lagoon.

On 6 July 2020, it was announced that the Third Mainland Bridge will be closed for six months due to repairs. [6] The bridge was to undergo another round of repairs from Friday, 24 July 2020, to 24 January 2021, for the replacement of bearings and worn-out expansion joints. [7]

On 4 January 2024, The Lagos State Government announces date to close Third Mainland Bridge for complete repairs. Each phase lasted for six weeks. [8] On 4 April 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria reopened the Third Mainland Bridge. [9]

Construction

In the 1970s, following the end of Nigeria's civil war, a period of increasing oil price followed and Nigeria went through series of economic upturns. A need for improved infrastructural facilities especially in the capital city of Lagos that had gone through a period of port congestion and then an upward tick in vehicular traffic created the impetus for a third bridge linking the commercial-oriented Lagos Island with the growing urban settlements of mainland Lagos. [10]

The Third Mainland Bridge cutting through neighborhoods burning refuse near the highway. Both the highway and the burning trash cause air pollution that harms the communities near the highway. The Third Mainland Bridge and its neighborhood.jpg
The Third Mainland Bridge cutting through neighborhoods burning refuse near the highway. Both the highway and the burning trash cause air pollution that harms the communities near the highway.

A contract was awarded for a third mainland bridge in 1976. Construction of the bridge was done in phases. The first phase was contracted to a PGH consortium, a venture consisting, Impressit Girola and Borini Prono, while Trevi Group provided support services for piling. The first phase was designed to be 5 kilometers in length, starting from the Island and ending at Ebute Metta, towards Yaba. [10] The bridge elevates to 3 kilometers above the water and made from pre-stressed reinforced concrete. Foundation piles had varying depths of between 36 and 54 meters and pile diameter is based on potential carrying road, diameters of 1500mm are used for the main bridge crossing the Lagos lagoon and for the slipway and approach roads, pile diameter was between 800mm and 1200mm. The first phase was completed in 1980. [10]

The second phase from Ebute-Metta to Oworonshoki was awarded to Julius Berger in Nigeria.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagos</span> Most populous city in Nigeria

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagos State</span> State in Nigeria

Lagos State is a state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 Nigerian states, Lagos is the second most populous state but the smallest in terms of land mass. Bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the international border with Benin for 10 km, Lagos State borders Ogun State to the north for about 283 km, making it the only Nigerian state to border only one other state. Named for the city of Lagos—the most populous city in Africa—the state was formed from the Western Region and the former Federal Capital Territory on 27 May 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagos Island</span> LGA in Lagos State, Nigeria

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ebute Metta</span>

Ebute Metta is a neighbourhood of Lagos Mainland, Lagos, in Lagos State, Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eko Bridge</span> Bridge in Nigeria

Eko Bridge is one of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, the others being the Third Mainland and Carter bridges. The bridge was built in 1975 and is the shortest of the three bridges linking Lagos Island to mainland.

Julius Berger is a Nigerian construction company, headquartered in Abuja, with additional permanent locations in Lagos and Uyo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagos Mainland</span> LGA and suburb in Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surulere</span> Place in Lagos State, Nigeria

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourth Mainland Bridge</span> Bridge in Lagos State, Nigeria

The Fourth Mainland Bridge is a 38 km long bridge project by the Lagos State Government, Nigeria, connecting Lagos Island by way of Langbasa(Lekki) and Baiyeku(Ikorodu) across the Lagos Lagoon to Itamaga, in Ikorodu. The bridge is a 2 × 4 lane carriageway cross-sectional road with permission for BRT Lane and future road contraction. It is expected to become the second longest Bridge in Africa, featuring 3 toll plazas, 9 interchanges, 4.5 km Lagoon Bridge and an eco-friendly environment amongst other added features. The idea was conceptualized by the government of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State. Construction was planned to commence in 2017, 50 years after the state's establishment and 26 years after the completion of the Third Mainland Bridge by the ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida and was expected to be completed by 2019, but construction has not been started as of November 2023. The project was to cost the state an estimated sum of ₦844 billion in the 2017 budget. In September 2020, the Lagos State Government proposed another sum of $2.2 billion for the construction. 800 houses are expected to be demolished as against the 4,000 earlier marked for demolition in the previous design that was realigned. In April 2021 there were 6 bidders for the US$2.5 billion project. By December the preferred bidder would be known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway</span> Expressway in Lagos, Nigeria

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oshodi Bus Terminal</span>

Oshodi Transport Interchange is located in the Oshodi area of Lagos State, Nigeria. The bus terminal is located between the Lagos-Apapa Expressway and the Agege Motor Road. The Oshodi Bus Terminal is divided into three different terminals called: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3.

Oyingbo Bus Terminal is located in Oyingbo Rd, Lagos Mainland, Lagos State, Nigeria. The Terminus is built at the centre of Oyingbo area and it shares boundaries with Yaba, Iddo and Ijora/Costain axis. Oyingbo Bus Terminal is the sister terminal to both the Oshodi and Ikeja Bus Terminals. The buses are fully air-conditioned and very convenient. The bus terminal is located at the heart of the busy Oyingbo market. Ease of accessing the island and other Mainland areas of Lagos by Bus is an advantage of the location of this bus terminal.

The Oshodi-Apapa Expressway was constructed between 1975 and 1978 as a major route to Tincan and Apapa Port and also as a major route into the country from Murtala Mohammed International Airport. As a result of neglect and so many years of the expressway, it however, virtually collapsed, causing the drainage system to also collapse completely.

References

  1. ↑ "Nigeria: Phase 1 construction of Third Mainland Bridge on Schedule". Construction Review Online. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "'Third Mainland Bridge structurally stable, maintenance to avert rigidity'". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  3. ↑ Anxiety over Third Mainland Bridge
  4. ↑ Third Mainland bridge shut for two months
  5. ↑ "Third Mainland Bridge is safe — Official". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  6. ↑ "FG to Shut Third Mainland Bridge for 6 Months". Nairametrics. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "'Third Mainland Bridge structurally stable, maintenance to avert rigidity'". guardian.ng. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  8. ↑ Vanguard, Newspaper (4 January 2024). "Lagos govt announces date to close Third Mainland Bridge for repairs".
  9. ↑ Temitope, Aina (4 April 2024). "FG reopens Third Mainland Bridge, LASTMA warns against speeding". Punch Newspaper.
  10. 1 2 3 "Bridge that gap". African Construction. IPC Building and Contract Journals: 28–29. June 1979.

6°30′00″N3°24′05″E / 6.50000°N 3.40139°E / 6.50000; 3.40139

Some certain articulated vehicles and trailers have been restricted from using the bridge.

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