The Federal Government has announced plans to complete the reconstruction of the Carter Bridge in Lagos State within 24 months, reducing the initial 36-month timeline for the project.
The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Monday during an inspection of the Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge projects in Lagos.
Umahi was accompanied by the Minister of State for Works, Senator Mohammed Goronyo, and members of the National Assembly, including the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi.
The minister said the decision to shorten the reconstruction period was driven by the strategic importance of Carter Bridge to Lagos’ transportation network.
The 1.58-kilometre bridge has served the city for more than six decades, while years of inadequate maintenance have contributed significantly to its deterioration.
Umahi said an underwater survey revealed that several bridge piles had detached from their pile caps, while extensive rust, scouring and illegal sand mining had further weakened the structure.
He explained that the Federal Government had completed a new design incorporating modern engineering solutions aimed at improving traffic flow and extending the bridge’s lifespan.
The redesigned bridge will feature additional ramps to ease congestion, with one carriageway elevated over another. A cable-stayed section will also be incorporated to provide sufficient clearance for navigation.
“Carter Bridge is 1.58km, but you are going to see aesthetics, engineering and innovation,” Umahi said.
He disclosed that the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), had completed about 15 per cent of preliminary activities, including setting up the project yard and constructing access roads.
According to him, piling works are expected to begin before the end of the week.
The reconstruction will also include protective structures such as gabions to shield the bridge foundations from erosion and scouring.
Umahi stressed that the bridge could not be completely shut down during construction because of its importance to Lagos commuters.
“If we close Carter Bridge, Lagos will go into katakata (chaos). That is why we are maintaining it while the reconstruction is going on,” he said.
The minister said a similar approach was being applied to the Third Mainland Bridge, where rehabilitation work is aimed at extending its service life by another 50 years.
He expressed confidence that the reconstructed Carter Bridge could remain functional for more than 100 years, citing the modern engineering and protective features incorporated into the new design.
Umahi also commended CCECC for its progress on the project and thanked members of the National Assembly for their support.
