Abiola Peters
The Federal Ministry of Works has confirmed damages to the Lotto bridge near Mowe on Lagos Ibadan Expressway and has decided to fix it with traffic diversion.
Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Engineer Olukorede Kesha made the confirmation after an on the spot assessment of the bridge with the contractor and newsmen.
Engineer Kesha said five beams were damaged by an improperly adjusted excavator hanger that was being transported from Apapa port on thursday last week.
She said the driver has already been arrested and that the owner of the excavator will be made to refund the cost of repairing the bridge, which will commence at a date to be announced later.
The Federal Controller of Works said the incident has necessitated the need for restoration of Weigh Bridges on highways and for Vehicle Inspection Officers to be more attentive to the maintenance of heavy duty vehicles.
Engineer Kesha also inspected the ongoing palliative work on twelve kilometers stretch of Sagamu to Iperu on the Ore -Benin route, which she said is happening alongside the construction of underpasses on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway.
Meanwhile, the Federal Controller of Works has announced planned closure of the Ijora Olopa to Apapa link bridge by Sunday 27th April, to allow for lifting of the bridge for replacement of fifty defective bearings of the deck.
Engineer Kesha who said the closure would last eight weeks, explained that traffic for light vehicles would be diverted through Ijora Causeway through 7Up to Apapa, while heavy duty vehicles should use Costain through Iganmu to Apapa.
Engineer Kesha noted that the work which is at the last stage, is another intervention of the federal government to salvage defective bridges especially that had not undergone maintenance since construction.