Lagos State Government, yesterday, shutdown the Marine Bridge, Apapa and the road inward Ijora indefinately, to allow the Federal Government contractor complete repair works on the bridge and road. Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who disclosed the closure in a statement made available to Vanguard, said that alternative routes had been provided for motorist to have easy navigation within Apapa Local Government.
Mobereola explained that the emergency closure was to allow the Federal Ministry of Works contractor examine the state of the bridge. According to him, “The emergency and immediate closure is to also allow the Federal Ministry carryout studies to determine the state of the Bridge and effect appropriate repairs.”
The closure came barely 24 hours after the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, paid an unsheduled visit to the bridge to ascertain the extent of delapidation suffered by the ever busy bridge.
Mobereola said “While the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has assured of immediate action towards repairing the Bridge as it may deem fit, the Lagos State Government is committed to putting in place effective traffic management strategies that will mitigate the impact of the closure.”
On the alternative routes, the commissioner explained that vehicles driving inward Wharf Base/Point Road should divert to service Lane (Marine Beach Road) to Leventis Junction to Link Lilly Pond by Dockyard and ascend the Ijora Bridge to continue their journey.
“Also, Motorists traveling to Ajegunle, Ajeromi-ifelodun Local Government, should take a left turn at the second junction under the Apapa Road Bridge to Marine Beach Junction inward Ajegunle or back to Ijora Bridge and continue their journey,” he added.
The commissioner however warned operators of articulated trucks not to be used the route, saying “this option is not for heavy duty vehicles.” His words, “The State Government is also, through this statement, imploring National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG) and its members to observe the reroute especially so as not to block the road when accessing the Tank Farms at Lilly Pond.
“The State Government has among other initiatives deployed various signages directing traffic appropriately. It is equally important to ask motorist to please obey personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies deployed to control and manage traffic in the area. This is in our collective interest.”