Third Mainland Bridge is safe, FG says

Contrary to reports making the round, the Federal Government said on Sunday that the Third Mainland Bridge is safe and not pose any danger.

The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, gave the assurance In a statement it issued in Abuja on Sunday, adding that its engineers and consultants had confirmed a bad joint on the bridge but said the bridge was good enough for commuters.

The statement read: “The general public is hereby informed that the expansion joint shown in a Facebook video clip is one of those slated for change during repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge which will commence soon.

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“It is still functioning and our engineers and consultants have advised that it does not pose any structural danger to the bridge and it is safe to use.

“Commuters and Lagos residents will recall that the Third Mainland Bridge was shut down for a three-day investigative maintenance in August 2018. Tests done on the expansion joints then called static and dynamic load tests were to check functionality. A number of expansion joints were identified for replacement then.

“More recently, in March this year, underwater confirmatory tests preceding the repair works to be done on the bridge were carried out on the piles to determine if there is further deterioration or not on the piles from that which was done in 2013.

“However, all the tests done preparatory to the closure of the bridge in order to commence comprehensive maintenance works indicate that the integrity of the bridge is intact.

“Therefore, the Third Mainland Bridge is safe for use, and people should desist from spreading or sharing false information about the bridge on social media platforms.”

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