Third Mainland Bridge
Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, the others are the Eko and Carter bridges. It was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge located in Cairo was completed. The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi expressway and Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. There is also a link midway through the bridge that leads to Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC. The phase one of the project was commissioned by President Shehu Shagari in 1980 and completed by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990; it measures about 11.8 km in length.
Third Mainland Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 6°30′00″N 3°24′05″E |
| Carries | Vehicular Traffic |
| Crosses | Lagos Lagoon (connects Lagos Island to Lagos Mainland) |
| Locale | Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Official name | Ibrahim Babangida Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 11.8 km (7.3 miles) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Julius Berger, PGH Venture |
| Opened | 1990 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | very high |
| Toll | No |
| Location | |
By 2006, many commuters had reported that the Third Mainland Bridge was vibrating noticeably, indicating that it needed urgent attention. As a result, remedial work was commenced on portions of the bridge at different times, leading to intermittent partial closure of the bridge. In January 2013, this work was completed.
Recently, there have been rumours of cracks on the bridge. This, however, was denied by authorities. The eight-lane bridge experienced a new look during the last repairing exercise, painting the bridge guide with the colours of Nigeria: green, white, green, and also general painting was done out for a new look. The repair works on the bridge were completed and the bridge was reopened on October 30, 2012.
The Third Mainland Bridge has very high vehicular traffic on weekdays, as many residents commute to and from the Lagos Mainland to the Island, which is the commercial hub of Lagos State. Residents in Ikeja, Agboyi-Ketu, Ikorodu, Isheri, Oworonshoki, Gbagada, Yaba, Maryland and Oshodi often use the bridge on their daily commutes. The Third Mainland Bridge is an essential part of Lagos' daily commuting, and as such requires to be constantly renovated. It has also come to be a major Lagos icon, offering different views of Lagos—the Lagos Lagoon, the University of Lagos waterfront and Makoko, a shanty town built on the Lagos Lagoon.
On 6 July 2020, it was announced that the Third Mainland Bridge will be closed for six months due to repairs. The bridge was to undergo another round of repairs from Friday, July 24, 2020, to January 24, 2021, for the replacement of bearings and worn-out expansion joints.