The Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos which was temporarily closed for Investigative Maintenance Test for three days was reopened at 5.00 pm yesterday about seven hours ahead of time.
It will be recalled that the Lagos State Government in conjunction with the Federal Government, temporarily shut the bridge midnight 23 August with the plan to reopen it about Midnight , Sunday , August 26, 2018
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Dr Taiwo Salaam said the decision to reopen the bridge earlier than announced followed the completion of the test by engineers.
The government also thanked motorists and residents for their cooperation and patience while the closure lasted.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and officials of relevant government agencies in the state were on the ground on Thursday to supervise the closure of the bridge.
Following the closure, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) deployed 650 personnel to all alternative routes to the Third Mainland Bridge, to ensure the free flow of traffic on the roads.
LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Olawale Musa, had said that the agency was aware of the volume of traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge and the consequences of diverting such huge traffic on the alternative routes during the period.
He had asked the officers on duty to show compassion to motorists, especially those that were unfamiliar with the alternative routes and other roads in the metropolis.
Mr Musa also urged motorists and commuters to be patient and cooperative with the traffic officers, to ensure a free flow of traffic on all alternative routes during the closure.
