Repair work: Stay away from Alaka bridge this weekend, FG urges motorists

Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola granted approval for the replacement of the expansion joint to curb gridlock.

He said that the faults that developed around the expansion joint on the Mainland bound carriageway, usually caused vehicles to slow down around the damaged portion necessitated its immediate replacement.

The controller said that traffic would be restricted around the construction zone on Saturday and Sunday, thereafter, a gantry would be placed to stop articulated vehicles from using the bridge after repairs.

He advised drivers of articulated vehicles to go through Costain, Funsho Williams Avenue to connect the Mainland.

“The minister of works and housing approved the replacement of that one number expansion joint that slows down traffic on Eko Bridge toward Alaka. That is, Eko Bridge linking Alaka.

“This is to ease the traffic flow and the work is going to be carried out this weekend, Saturday, Sunday.

“Upon completion of that expansion joint, gantry will be placed. The height of the gantry is about 2.4 metres high to restrict the articulated vehicles and container carriers from passing on top of that Alaka bound bridge.

“We want to reduce axle load on the bridge. All the articulated vehicles are now advised to ramp down and go through Costain to Alaka,’’ he said.

Popoola said that ongoing rehabilitation of the Island bound section of the Alaka linking Eko Bridge was progressing fast.

“They are already casting the concrete. They have already done all the reinforcement work and will fill it with concrete which will be completed maybe by weekend.

“They are casting the concrete of the pier under Eko Bridge by Costain, it is the same alignment, one is going, and another one is coming,’’ he said.