FG shortens Lagos Carter Bridge reconstruction to 24 months

The Federal Government has shortened the timeline to rebuild the Carter Bridge in Lagos State to 24 months from 36 months previously.

This was revealed by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, at a tour of the ongoing construction works at the Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge in Lagos.

According to him, the move is part of efforts aimed at fast-tracking the completion of the project, and reducing the time that citizens will have to deal with the repercussions of the construction.

The minister was accompanied by the Minister of State for Works, Senator Mohammed Goronyo, and several members of the National Assembly.

Also on the inspection team was the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi.

The Carter Bridge is an important road link in Lagos, connecting major parts of the metropolis and supporting the movement of people and goods.

The Federal Government’s decision to shorten the project timeline is expected to ensure that the reconstruction is completed sooner and that the bridge can return to full use within the revised 24-month period.

The minister explained that the decision to shorten the reconstruction period was informed by the critical role Carter Bridge plays in Lagos’ transportation network.

The 1.58-kilometre bridge has served Lagos for more than six decades, with prolonged inadequate maintenance contributing to significant deterioration of the structure.

“Carter Bridge has stayed for over 60 to 70 years with no maintenance.

“The lifespan of every bridge is about 50 years, and what we found out from the underwater survey is that a lot of the piles had detached from the pile caps,” Umahi said.

He likened the condition of the bridge to “having the leg removed from the hip,” adding that extensive rust had also affected the piles, while scouring and illegal sand mining had contributed to the structural problems.

Umahi said the government had completed a new design for the bridge, incorporating engineering features intended to improve traffic flow and strengthen the structure against future deterioration.

According to him, the redesigned bridge will feature additional ramps to reduce congestion, while one carriageway will be elevated over another. A cable-stayed section will also be incorporated to provide adequate clearance for navigation.

“Carter Bridge is 1.58km, but you are going to see aesthetics, engineering and innovation,” the minister said.

“We are going to be flying one carriageway over the other, increasing the number of ramps to decongest traffic towards the ramp sections.

“We are also having a cable bridge to contain the 105 spans for navigational activities. It is going to be beautiful,” he added.

Umahi said the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), had completed approximately 15 per cent of the preliminary work, including the establishment of a project yard and construction of access roads.

He disclosed that piling activities were expected to commence before the end of the week.

The project will also include additional protective measures, such as the installation of gabions, to safeguard the bridge foundations from erosion and scouring.

The minister stressed that a total closure of Carter Bridge was not an option because of its importance to Lagos’ transport system.

“If we close Carter Bridge, Lagos will go into katakata (chaos). That is why we are maintaining it while the reconstruction is going on,” he said.

Umahi said the Federal Government was applying a similar strategy to the Third Mainland Bridge, where rehabilitation work is being undertaken to extend its service life by another 50 years.

He expressed optimism that the new Carter Bridge would remain functional for more than a century, citing the additional engineering and protective measures incorporated into its design.

The minister also commended CCECC for the progress made so far and thanked members of the National Assembly for their support for the project.