Umahi advocates waterway’s closure over bridge elements damage

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has advocated for the closure of the waterway between Eko Bridge and Carter Bridge in Lagos to boat traffic following damage caused to Eko Bridge by a boat operator.

The accident resulted in the complete damage of one of the pier caps of the bridge.

He called on the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other concerned authorities to take appropriate proactive steps to avoid a catastrophe.

The minister said the situation has led to the declaration of an emergency situation at the Eko Bridge that would have almost warranted immediate closure of the bridge.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the bridge on Saturday, Umahi said, “We had a very terrible situation at Eko Bridge with one of the pier caps totally damaged.”

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He added that he was only told about the incident on Friday night which happened after a dredger hit the pier cap, destroying it and many rods.

“Pier caps are to bridges what the legs are to human beings. What is holding that section are only rods. Some of the rods were also damaged,” the minister also said.

“I was going to announce shutting down of the bridge but I have looked at it and there is something we can do, though very delicate, to restore it. There will be no need of shutting down but it is an emergency situation,” he said.

During the inspection the minister directed the contractor handling the bridge repair on what to do to ensure the integrity of the bridge.

Umahi also inspected the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge, expressing satisfaction at the progress of work on the bridges.

“We have inspected the Third Mainland Bridge, and Carter Bridge, both being handled by Julius Berger, and we are satisfied with the work. I can say that the work on Third Mainland Bridge is about 50 per cent completed, and that of Carter Bridge, about 70 per cent completed,” he said.

The minister said that the slab on the Third Mainland Bridge had deflection compelling its closure against articulated vehicles.

He said following the position of Julius Berger, the contractor handling the Third Mainland Bridge, that there was a new design to tackle the issue, the ministry will nominate people who will go to Germany and look at the new design method, before it will be approved.

Ghassan Kaadi, project coordinator for Buildwell, who is handling the Eko Bridge rehabilitation project, while briefing the minister, said that the project was 75 per cent completed.

Thomas Christ, Regional Manager, West, Julius Berger Plc., while speaking on the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge repairs, said that the company was aware of how critical the bridges were in connecting motorists and commuters from Lagos Island to Lagos Mainland.

“That is why we are working here with the best engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works to find out the best solution for the bridges. We did some investigations underwater and above the water on the quality and the structural integrity of the bridges,” he said.

Christ said that the company was doing its best to finish the works as fast as possible and make the bridges sustainable.