Contrary to statement making the round in the social media to the effect that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos is will collapse soon, the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has said that the Bridge is safe for use.
According to a statement from the Ministry, the expansion joint shown in a Facebook video clip, was one of those slated for change during repairs to the Third Mainland Bridge which would commence soon.
It added that the expansion joint was still functioning and that the Ministry’s engineers and consultants had advised that it did not pose any structural danger to the bridge adding that it was safe to use.
“Commuters and Lagos residents will recall that the Third Mainland Bridge was shut down for a 3-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 (video attached) 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 done in 2013.
“However, all the tests done preparatory to closure of the Bridge to commence comprehensive Maintenance works indicate that the integrity of the Bridge is intact”, the statement said.
It added that the expansion joints to be replaced were part of a regular bridge maintenance programme that had been neglected for decades which the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was now addressing frontally on many bridges nationwide.
“Such maintenance works include resurfacing of the Bridge, along with several others, which this administration is also undertaking as the bridge users will attest to a better driving surface”, it stated.
It therefore concluded that “the Third Mainland Bridge is safe for use”, while warning people to desist from spreading or sharing false information about the Bridge on Social Media platforms.
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