The Federal Government has assured that the rebuilding of Iddo Bridge in Lagos State will be completed by the end of 2026.
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, gave the assurance while inspecting the ongoing federal roads and bridge projects in Lagos, on Thursday.
“I must know very stage of that construction to ensure that the engineering design is followed and the method statement as given to the contractor is also followed,” Umahi said.
The minister said that the first carriageway to be reconstructed would be opened after 28 days of casting the concrete, while work on the other carriageway would begin.
“I believe strongly that by the end of the year, we should be able to complete the bridge.
“We have reinforced concrete pavement. We had to dig the ground to also gain some height in terms of having a minimum of 5.6 headroom for trucks,” the minister said.
According to Umahi, the standard engineering design for headroom is 5.6 but directed for 6.5 to be used to acommcodate trucks.
On Eko Bridge, also in Lagos State, Umahi expressed dissatisfaction at the parking of damaged trucks on the bridge and the illegal habitation under the bridge.
He said he had directed the controller of works in Lagos State to set up a task force to check illegalities on the bridge to avoid its destruction.
He revealed that two sets of measures were agreed on to restore the bridge
“One is temporary, where we were going to do some piling works, restore the pile cap that was destroyed, strengthen it, and then complete the design for total rehabilitation of the section of the bridge that was destroyed.”
Umahi said that the process would amount to lifting one or two spans, taking them out and doing complete repiling around the pile caps before integrating it with a new one.
“That one is quite expensive. The immediate one we are going to do will cost us about N12 billion.
“We have sent it to the BPP (Bureau for Public Procurement), and by next week, I will be going to see Mr President for intervention funds to restore that bridge.”