TheCable

The federal government has announced a 72-hour closure of the Third Mainland Bridge to allow for the casting of three expansion joints on the Island-bound lane.

Olukayode Popoola, federal controller of works, on Tuesday, told NAN that the closure of the bridge will take effect from midnight on Saturday, December 26, to midnight on Monday, December 28.

Popoola said commuters will ply the bridge to celebrate Christmas, but that it will be closed after the celebrations, noting that the bridge has reached the stage for casting concrete on additional three expansion joints.

“There is going to be total closure of Third Mainland Bridge in order to allow for the casting of three number expansion joints on the Island Bound lane,” he said.

“The effective date of the closure will be from 12:00 midnight of 25th of December. So people will be allowed to use the Third Mainland Bridge to celebrate Christmas.

“By the time the Christmas is winding down which is 12:00 midnight, we are going to close it so that we will be able to cast the concrete on Saturday the 26th and 27th we cast again.

“And we need about 72 hours for this concrete to set. Therefore, the opening will be on the 28th December midnight, that is 72-hour closure.

“This is to prevent vibration of the bridge. If we allow vehicles to be moving on one lane, there is going to be vibrations and the concrete will not set properly.”

In a bid to avoid the impending traffic gridlock, the controller said traffic regulatory agencies will be deployed to manage traffic, adding that the alternative routes are in good condition.

Popoola also said Lagos-Ibadan expressway will be partially closed for 48 hours from December 28 to December 29.

“The contractor, Messers Julius Berger wants to install cross beams at Kilometre 16, that is, around MFM,” he said.

“That area will be cordoned off, there will be closure within that section from 12:00pm on 28th of December and it will be opened to traffic by 5:00am the following day.

“200 meters to get to that particular location we have diversion and another diversion 200 meters away from that place.

“One lane will be opened to traffic, it is only one lane we are closing to traffic at a time. The first lane that we are going to close is outward Lagos, that is the Ibadan bound carriageway, we will close it on the 28th.

“And then the second day which is 29th, we are moving to the other lane which in inward Lagos. The same 12:00pm to 5:00am.”