The Lagos Independence Bridge will partially reopen to traffic on Sunday, with only one half of the carriageway accessible as repair work continues. This announcement comes after a massive traffic gridlock in Lagos on Wednesday, caused by the bridge’s closure for urgent rehabilitation.
Temporary Restoration to Allow Partial Reopening
Minister of Works, David Umahi, revealed on Thursday that a temporary restoration would be completed in the next three days, allowing partial traffic flow by Sunday. However, only half of the carriageway will be open to traffic, as further assessments and repairs are scheduled over the next two weeks. Umahi assured that the situation would be closely monitored to ensure minimal disruptions as repairs progress. He emphasized that a full restoration of the bridge would be done in phases to manage the flow of traffic more efficiently and prevent further gridlock in the area.
Cause of Damage and Immediate Fixes
Umahi explained that the damage to the bridge resulted from the erosion of sand beneath the roadway, which led to a gradual collapse. To address this, the contractor, Buildwell, has constructed a retaining wall on piles to stabilize the structure and prevent further sand loss. The first phase of the repairs involves filling the affected area with subsand and laying a 450mm-thick stone base, allowing traffic to resume for two weeks. This interim solution is expected to ease the traffic burden while the long-term repairs proceed.
Following this temporary fix, the reconstruction of the bridge deck will begin in sections, with traffic restricted to one half of the carriageway while work continues on the other. The minister noted that completing the first carriageway could take up to two months, as the concrete slab will require 21 days to cure before traffic can be diverted to the repaired section.
Gridlock and Criticism Over Lack of Coordination
The bridge’s closure on April 1, 2025, severely disrupted traffic across Lagos Island, causing massive congestion. The situation worsened on April 2 due to heavy rainfall, leaving many commuters trapped in traffic for over 12 hours. Umahi criticized the Federal Ministry of Works Controller for Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, for ordering the closure without prior approval. He called for better coordination in future repairs to avoid further inconvenience to the public. Authorities are working to implement a more coordinated approach for future repairs to prevent unnecessary delays.
