FG announces new date to reopen Eko, Apongbon bridges, issues eviction notice

The Federal Government on Thursday said it has decided re-open both Eko and Apongbon Bridges to traffic ahead of schedule by midnight of July 9, 2023 to alleviate the suffering of road users.

The Director, Highways, Bridges and Designs in the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Omotayo Awosanya gave the hint while leading top engineers from the Federal team and Lagos State on inspection tour of the bridges.

The team earlier had a closed door meeting with Buildwell Plants and Equipment Industries Ltd, contractors on the project at their construction yard in Costain.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government had earlier set July 15 completion deadline for the bridges.

NAN further reports that the joint team inspected Apongbon Bridge both up and beneath and Ijora-Olopa section of the Eko Bridge.

Awosanya said the new date was to reduce hardships faced by Lagos residents, adding that, when the bridges are re-opened there will be intermittent short closures to continue repairs.

He said an existing contract for rehabilitation of the entire Eko Bridge had reached 50 per cent completion.

The director, added that a total of 150 bearings had been replaced with additional 150 to be installed in subsequent rehabilitation works.

He explained that at exactly midnight on Sunday, July 9, the bridges would be re-opened so that commuters would have smooth passage on Monday morning of July 10.

Awosanya said the date review was borne out of the need to relieve stress commuters have undergone for almost a year since fire gutted Apongbon section and later Ijora Olopa portion

He said full scale rehabilitation would continue on other sections of the Eko Bridge, as the contract is meant to last three years.

“We have come here to urge the contractor to reduce five days out of the 15th of July, we are now going to open the bridge on the 9th at 12.00 midnight.

“And a minute after 12.00 a.m on the 9th, the bridge will be opened for traffic on the 10th.

“This is as a result of close collaboration between Federal Government and Lagos State Government because we are mindful.