During the flag-off, Mr. David Umahi, the Minister of Works, and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos, announced that the ongoing emergency rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State would cost more than N21.074 billion.
According to him, the amount arose from an extension of the project's scope, which involved replacing the bridge deck's asphalt entirely to the usual two inches in order to improve driving safety and smoothness.
"This is another significant step toward the realization of divine President Ahmed Bola Tinubu's reborn hope program.
"This, among other things, aims to bring succour to road users who have suffered the effects of decaying infrastructure over the years and to completely reposition road and bridge infrastructure in Nigeria," he stated.
He explained that expanding the scope of the repairs was necessary because earlier attempts to fix the bridge did not fully address all of the issues for the integrity of the structure to be restored.
In order to deter suicide attempts on the bridge, he continued, a specific feature agreed upon with the Lagos State administration was to install spikes on the guard rails.
The Minister further stated that while work on the main carriageways would start in January 2024, repairs to the four ramps at Adekunle/Adeniji would be finished by Christmas or New Year's Eve, at the latest.
It is important to note that the ongoing work being flagged off today only pertains to the bridge's superstructure.
"The government is currently conducting examinations about the deflection deck slab, piers, pile caps, and pile designs.
"This will eventually result in the awarding of a contract for the restoration of the bridge's substructure elements," he stated.
For his part, Hamzat expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for focusing on the upkeep of the Third Mainland Bridge and other state bridges.
As governor of Ebonyi, Hamzat expressed confidence that Umahi will repeat his excellent infrastructural accomplishments.
He pleaded with the people of Lagos to put up with the small amount of inconvenience that the bridge restoration would bring about, promising that it was essential for the public's general welfare.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Umahi and the Deputy Governor met with various businesses at the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway's beginning point.
According to Umahi, the project, which began at Victoria Island, close to Eko Atlantic City, was a public-private partnership that would increase the country's interconnectivity.
The additional infrastructure along the project's alignment would support interconnectedness, tourism, and job growth.
Hamzat guaranteed that the state government had regained the project's Right of Way (RoW).
He pleaded with Lagos residents not to purchase or develop property along the project's path, pointing out that physical planning violations were the root cause of a number of issues with the built environment.
Among others in the Minister's entourage were Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, Director of Highways, Bridges and Designs, Mr. Omotayo Awosanya, and Director of Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Mr. Adedamola Kuti.
Top directors of the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, as well as Mr. Olufemi Daramola, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Infrastructure, joined the Deputy Governor.