The Federal Government has partially closed Kara Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for integrity test.
Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Kayode Popoola, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone on Friday that an integrity test was necessary to ascertain the stability of the bridge, following a recent fire incident on the bridge.
He said that removal of wreckage was likely to be done later on Friday by the contractor, Julius Berger, and the bridge would be partially closed with traffic diverted for work to begin on Saturday.
Mr Popoola said that traffic would be diverted to two lanes, instead of the original three on the highway, and appealed for motorists’ cooperation and understanding.
“Kara Bridge got burnt and we have to carry out integrity test. The test will be done by Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd,” he said.
“Hopefully, they will remove the wreckage today and then we put the barriers there, then the work will start tomorrow.
“There is going to be partial closure of one lane in the sense that instead of three lanes, traffic will now be restricted to only two lanes, that is, the Ibadan-bound lane.
“The work will be done on Saturday and Sunday, they would finish hopefully on Sunday.
“We advise motorists to please slow down and allow us to work so that avoidable accidents can be avoided.”
A fire incident occurred on the bridge on June 21 when two petrol tankers crashed inward Lagos.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in a statement by its spokesman, Bisi Kazeem, said the test operation which would necessitate the narrowing of the Ibadan bound carriageway to two lanes only would be carried out between Saturday and Sunday on the Ibadan bound carriageway.
As such, there will be an imminent diversion of traffic on the bridge to allow for smooth conduct of the test.
“Consequently, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, hereby advises motoring public to exercise caution at the diversion points, maintain common sense speed limit, and be lane disciplined while using the available portion of the road as the test operation will not require the total closure of the bridge,” the statement read.
Mr Kazeem also stated that alternative routes could be explored so as to ease off the burden on the motorable portion on the bridge.
The alternative routes are Ikorodu Road to Itokin – Ijebu-Ode to Iperu or Sagamu interchange. Also, those driving on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway will now go through Sango Ota – Itori inward Abeokuta to Sagamu interchange. While vehicles heading to Ibadan on Lekki – Ajah to Ibeju Lekki to Epe – Ijebu-Ode are to pass through Sagamu interchange. Those driving on Ikorodu Roundabout inward Sabo roundabout to link Ikorodu- Sagamu Road.
