Fourth Mainland Bridge To Claim 800 Houses

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILLS, April 25, (THEWILL) – The Lagos State Government has disclosed that about 800 houses will be demolished for the construction of the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge.

According to Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson, the old alignment for the bridge was to claim over 3,000 houses which would mean huge economic losses to the economy.

He said with the new design, 2,200 houses will be saved from demolition while about 800 houses will now be affected, adding that the affected owners would be compensated by the government.

He explained that the bridge when constructed would reduce traffic volume on the existing three bridges – Eko, Cater and Third Mainland Bridge.

“The proposed bridge will traverse from Ajah to North West direction towards the lagoon shoreline to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway via Ikorodu. The approximate length of the road/bridge is 37.9km with a design speed of 140km/h,” he said.

“Lagos State Government has held discussions with a consortium of consultants in furtherance of the project,” said the commissioner.

“The significance and value of the project lies in its capacity to rapidly decongest the traffic gridlock within the Lekki corridor and redistribute traffic towards Lagos Mainland which serves to meet increased future road infrastructure demands.”

He explained that the delay on the ongoing work at Badagry express way was due to paucity of funds, adding that Julius Berger, the construction firm handling the Lot I between Eric Moore to Mile 2, will finish the median lanes and hand over by August this year while CCECC to which the Lot II as awarded will continue construction in phases towards Agbara.

He further revealed that the state government had initiated a scheme to upgrade the network of roads in Ikeja to “improve and boost the economic stature of the seat of government to word-class standard commensurate with other capital cities and also to reduce to the barest minimum, traffic gridlock along the corridor.

“This will involve the expansion of Awolowo Way with an elevated highway from the Airport Hotel to Alausa to decongest the traffic gridlock along Allen Round-about, Kudirat Abiola Round-about and Agidingbi Round-about. There will also be an expansion of the Allen/Opebi Road to Odo Iya-Alaro via a link bridge at Ogudu to the 3rd Mainland Bridge.

These networks of roads when upgraded will boost the economic activities in Ikeja being the seat of government,” the commissioner said.

Story by David Oputah