The federal government is working to complete reconstruction of the Carter Bridge in Lagos within 24 months instead of the 36 months initially scheduled for the project.

Works minister David Umahi disclosed this on Monday while inspecting the reconstruction of the Carter Bridge and the Iddo Bridge in Lagos.

The minister was accompanied by his deputy, Mohammed Goronyo, and some members of the National Assembly, including the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi.

Mr Umahi said the government was accelerating work on the bridge because of its importance to vehicle movement in Lagos.

He said the bridge, which is about 1.58 km long, had remained in use for more than 60 years with inadequate maintenance, leading to serious structural problems.

The minister said the government had completed the new bridge design and introduced features to improve traffic flow and protect the structure from future damage.

According to him, the new bridge will have additional ramps to reduce congestion, with one carriageway built above the other.

He said a cable-stayed section would also be introduced to provide adequate clearance for navigation.

He said the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), had completed about 15 per cent of preparatory work, including acquiring the project yard and constructing access roads. According to the minister, piling is expected to commence before the end of the week.

The minister said the government was also introducing additional protective measures, including gabions, to protect the bridge foundations from erosion and scouring.

Mr Umahi said that Carter Bridge could not be closed completely during the reconstruction because of its importance to vehicular movement. He said the government would therefore regularly monitor and maintain the existing structure until the new bridge is completed.

Mr Umahi also said the government was applying similar measures on the Third Mainland Bridge, adding that the intervention was designed to extend its lifespan by another 50 years. He expressed confidence that the new Carter Bridge would last for more than 100 years because of the additional engineering features being introduced.

The minister commended the contractor for the progress made so far, and thanked members of the National Assembly for their support.

(NAN)