Experts, stakeholders agreed on complete replacement of the Carter bridge in Lagos
The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE has announced that the Carter Bridge is irredeemable and experts and stakeholders have agreed that a complete replacement of the bridge might be safer and more cost-effective than attempting repairs.
The minister dropped the hint after a comprehensive inspection on the Carter Bridge today in Lagos in the company of the Acting Director of Bridge, Design and construction, Engr. Musa, Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Engr. (Mrs) Kesha, Hitech and Julius Berger officials, technical experts as well as journalists.
Umahi disclosed that Berger is currently doing the under deck and the rehabilitation of the piers and pile caps and the cover of the pile caps.
According to him Manba is the consultant that has been procured to investigate comprehensively what is happening to the pie caps that is below the waters in the third mainland Bridge and the Carter Bridge.
He stated that what they have observed is that Berger should go back and write their investigative report on each of the pile caps as well as well as the report from Manba.
“We have insisted that the situation in the Carter Bridge is so critical and stakeholders have agreed that Carter bridge is irredeemable. What we did today is to see if we can salvage the ramps so that we cut down thw cost of construction and the type of construction. That decision could not be taken as we need the consultant and Berger to put their observation and we have the instrument to determine whether their observation are right or wrong. If the observation are as they sent to us it means the both the ramps and main axle section of the Carter Bridge will have to go.
“We are also aware the previous Carter Bridge that was done was demolished by explosive, so it is still within the water. So, whatever we are doing we have to consider its removal so that it will not affect our navigational activities,” the minister explained.
He maintained that since all the stakeholders have agreed that new Carter Bridge be constructed the critical decision that they have to take will be “Are we demolishing and following the existing one or is there any way they can salvage and replace something to be used while they take a different alignment?”
In the meantime, the minister said that they have advertised for public engagement for technical information, technical design and idea for bidding for the third Mainland bridge and the Carter Bridge.
He affirmed that the ministry will do everything to rehabilitate the third Mainland Bridge.
He emphasized that the third Mainland and the Carter Bridge has been advertised for PPP. The project is planned under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) arrangement to bring in private capital for large-scale works.
We warned against trucks that are parking on the roads and bridges across the country and directed the controller of works Lagos to write to the Commissioner of Police about the parking of heavy vehicles on the bridges in Lagos for it to be stopped.
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