The Federal Government has handed over the construction of a new Carter Bridge in Lagos to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, while announcing the partial closure of the Eko Bridge over structural defects caused by illegal sand mining.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this during the official handover ceremony held at Carter Bridge, Lagos Island, on Wednesday.
Umahi said the decision to reconstruct the Carter Bridge followed years of investigations which revealed worsening structural defects beneath both the Carter Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge.
According to him, underwater investigations carried out in 2013 and 2019 showed increasing structural failures on the bridges.
“The past administration commissioned investigation of what was happening with the structural elements below the water, and that was in 2013. And the very disturbing defects were noticed in Carter Bridge and 3rd Mainland Bridge,” he said.
The minister explained that fresh investigations conducted by specialist divers after the current administration assumed office confirmed that some piles supporting the bridges had shifted from their pile caps.
He said consultations with local and foreign bridge experts showed that repairing the Carter Bridge would cost nearly twice the amount required to construct a new one.
Umahi disclosed that the new bridge would feature a cable-stayed section to improve navigation and aesthetics.
He added that the project, valued at N545bn, would be completed within 36 months.
According to the minister, the project will be funded through a combination of Federal Government counterpart funding and external borrowing, with the Federal Government providing 30 per cent of the cost.
He said six companies submitted bids for the project after seven firms were invited, adding that CCECC emerged as the most technically and commercially viable contractor.
“The CCECC was technically and commercially most viable. And that’s why the BPP recommended them and the Federal Executive Council awarded the project to them,” Umahi stated.
Meanwhile, the minister also announced the emergency closure of one carriageway of the Eko Bridge beginning midnight on Sunday, May 10, following severe structural damage allegedly caused by illegal dredging activities.
Umahi said illegal sand miners damaged several supporting piles after striking one of the bridge’s pile caps with a barge.
“When they knocked the pile cap, they broke three piles. And when they were trying to remove the barge, they broke another two,” he said.
He explained that the incident caused cracks and instability on a section of the bridge, posing danger to motorists and residents.
According to him, only the affected carriageway will be closed, while the other section remains open to traffic.
The minister said emergency repairs would involve lifting part of the bridge to expose and repair damaged sections underneath.
He added that Buildwell Construction would handle the emergency repairs alongside underwater investigations by specialist divers.
Umahi assured residents that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been fully briefed and directed that the matter be treated as an emergency.
“We are solving problems we didn’t create, but that’s why you voted for us, and that we are going to be working day and night,” the minister said.
