Lagos: Nigerian govt targets 24-month completion of Carter Bridge reconstruction

The Federal Government has announced plans to complete the reconstruction of the Carter Bridge in Lagos State within 24 months, cutting the initial 36-month timeline for the project.

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Monday during an inspection of the Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge projects in Lagos.

Umahi was accompanied by the Minister of State for Works, Senator Mohammed Goronyo, as well as members of the National Assembly, including the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi.

The minister explained that the decision to shorten the reconstruction period was informed by the critical role Carter Bridge plays in Lagos’ transportation network.

The 1.58-kilometre bridge has served Lagos for more than six decades, with prolonged inadequate maintenance contributing to significant deterioration of the structure.

“Carter Bridge has stayed for over 60 to 70 years with no maintenance.

“The lifespan of every bridge is about 50 years, and what we found out from the underwater survey is that a lot of the piles had detached from the pile caps,” Umahi said.

He likened the condition of the bridge to “having the leg removed from the hip,” adding that extensive rust had also affected the piles, while scouring and illegal sand mining had contributed to the structural problems.

Umahi said the government had completed a new design for the bridge, incorporating engineering features intended to improve traffic flow and strengthen the structure against future deterioration.

According to him, the redesigned bridge will feature additional ramps to reduce congestion, while one carriageway will be elevated over another. A cable-stayed section will also be incorporated to provide adequate clearance for navigation.

“Carter Bridge is 1.58km, but you are going to see aesthetics, engineering and innovation,” the minister said.

“We are going to be flying one carriageway over the other, increasing the number of ramps to decongest traffic towards the ramp sections.

“We are also having a cable bridge to contain the 105 spans for navigational activities. It is going to be beautiful,” he added.

Umahi said the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), had completed approximately 15 per cent of the preliminary work, including the establishment of a project yard and construction of access roads.

He disclosed that piling activities were expected to commence before the end of the week.

The project will also include additional protective measures, such as the installation of gabions, to safeguard the bridge foundations from erosion and scouring.

The minister stressed that a total closure of Carter Bridge was not an option because of its importance to Lagos’ transport system.

“If we close Carter Bridge, Lagos will go into katakata (chaos). That is why we are maintaining it while the reconstruction is going on,” he said.

Umahi said the Federal Government was applying a similar strategy to the Third Mainland Bridge, where rehabilitation work is being undertaken to extend its service life by another 50 years.

He expressed optimism that the new Carter Bridge would remain functional for more than a century, citing the additional engineering and protective measures incorporated into its design.

The minister also commended CCECC for the progress made so far and thanked members of the National Assembly for their support for the project.