By our Reporter
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, has announced the closure of the Marine Bridge, a key connection between Ido and Apapa, beginning Sunday, April 27, for necessary repairs.
The Marine Bridge, which spans less than a kilometer, serves as a crucial link between Lagos Island and Apapa, a major port and industrial area.
The closure, which will last for 60 days, is aimed at replacing 50 defective bearings across three sections of the bridge, addressing the urgent maintenance needs of the aging infrastructure.
Kesha explained that the repair work would be carried out in phases to minimize disruption, with each section scheduled for 20 days of closure.
“We have three sections to be closed for repairs, and we will be changing about 50 bearings,” she said.
“The first section is at the beginning of the bridge, so we will close it for 20 days. The second section is at the middle of the bridge; that one we may not close, we will do traffic diversion there. The third part will be closed for another 20 days where the bridge meets Apapa.”
Kesha in an interview outlined diversion plans to mitigate traffic disruptions, recalling the chaos of a previous closure on April 2 that left Lagos at a standstill.
“The total closure period will span 60 days, with the first 20 days being the most critical, as the initial section will be fully shut. For the subsequent phases, diversions will allow partial access.”
Kesha emphasized alternative routes to ease commuter concerns, particularly for articulated trucks and smaller vehicles. “If you’re a heavily loaded articulated truck, there’s no need for you to come to Ijora. From Costain, link Iganmu and from there, link Apapa straight,” she advised.
“For smaller vehicles, you go straight to Ijora 7Up. You will not have the opportunity to climb the bridge to Apapa. If you still want to go to Apapa through Ijora Causeway to Ijora 7Up, after the roundabout at Ijora 7Up, you just turn left. There’s an access ramp that takes you up that bridge again.”
Kesha also addressed the proximity of other bridges, including the Ido Bridge, a smaller 100-meter structure near the Nigerian Railway at Ido, which will also face brief closures.
“Ido Bridge is small. We intend to close it too in the shortest possible time. We will mount barriers almost immediately after this because we need to repair that bridge,” she said, underscoring the broader challenge of maintaining Lagos’s aging infrastructure.
“All the bridges in Lagos are receiving attention. You will agree with me that most of those bridges, they are aged, they are so old, and if we cannot replace them, then we need to put them in good shape so that it will be a safe place for all of us to ride on.”
To prevent a repeat of the April 2 traffic debacle, when unplanned roadworks paralyzed Lagos, Kesha stressed proactive communication. “We still intend to do a press briefing with major stakeholders, and then we’re going to invite all the union leaders,” she said, ensuring drivers, especially of articulated trucks, are informed in advance.
She also clarified that a previous closure between December and February involved an access ramp, not the Marine Bridge itself. “That was the access ramp if you’re coming from Apapa and you want to go to the ramp that you will descend instead of going straight to Williams Avenue,” she noted.
