The federal government has expressed confidence that the rebuilding of Iddo Bridge in Lagos State will be completed by the end of 2026.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, gave the assurance while inspecting ongoing federal roads and bridge projects in Lagos on Thursday.

“We have made some observations.

“I must know every stage of that construction to ensure that the engineering design is followed and the method statement as given to the contractor is also followed,” Mr Umahi said.

The minister said that the first carriageway to be reconstructed would be opened after 28 days of casting the concrete, while work on the other carriageway would begin.

“I believe strongly that by the end of the year, we should be able to complete the bridge.

“We have reinforced concrete pavement. We had to dig the ground to also gain some height in terms of having a minimum of 5.6 headroom for trucks,” the minister said.

According to Mr Umahi, the standard engineering design for headroom is 5.6.

“However, in all our new construction, we have directed that we should have 6.5 because of boarding of trucks to accommodate incidentals.”

On Eko Bridge, also in Lagos State, Mr Umahi expressed dissatisfaction with the parking of damaged trucks on the bridge.

He also expressed concern about illegal habitation under the bridge.

He said he had directed the controller of works in Lagos State to set up a task force to check illegal activities on the bridge to avoid its destruction.

“We agreed on two sets of measures to restore the bridge.

“One is temporary, where we were going to do some piling works, restore the pile cap that was destroyed, strengthen it, and then complete the design for total rehabilitation of the section of the bridge that was destroyed.”

Mr Umahi said that the process would involve lifting one or two spans, taking them out, and carrying out complete repiling around the pile caps before integrating it with a new one.

“That one is quite expensive. The immediate one we are going to do will cost us about N12 billion.

“We have sent it to the BPP (Bureau for Public Procurement), and by next week, I will be going to see Mr president for intervention funds to restore that bridge.”

Mr Umahi also noted that there were issues with some of the bearings and underwater works on Eko Bridge.

“We need to intervene immediately so that Eko Bridge will not collapse.”

 (NAN)