Lagos reopens Eko, Apongbon bridges months after closure

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday, announced the reopening of the Apongbon bridge section of Eko Bridge in the state, over 15 months after it was closed due to an unfortunate fire outbreak at the market in that axis and its environs.

The reopening of the bridge will bring huge relief to motorists and commuters who have endured months of pain transiting in and out of Lagos Island as well as end a long wait for the use of the section of that bridge.

This disclosure is contained in a tweet posted by the Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, on his official Twitter account.

Sanwo-Olu said the repair at the Apogbon axis had been completed, but disclosed that maintenance work would continue on the infrastructure, which would lead to intermittent closures in the coming months.

READ ALSO: Apongbon Bridge: May reopening guaranteed- FG

The Governor conveyed the Federal Government’s apology to Lagos residents for the delay in getting the bridge back to use, stressing that it would be risky to reopen the bridge without proper reconstruction of the damaged section.

“In future, there will be more intermittent closures at different sections of the bridge but the period may not be longer than one or two weeks. This is necessary for us to jerk up the bridge and complete the maintenance work. We are reopening the bridge to bring relief to road users, who have endured hardship due to the repair work.”

The Governor said the contractor handling the work would also be reconstructing ancillary roads along the corridor to prevent further misuse of the bridge.

No more trading activities under the bridge, issues 7-day ultimatum

Sanwo-Olu said continuous trading activities under the bridge would no longer be permitted to prevent further damage to the flyover.

Recall that the Apongbon Bridge was razed by fire on March 23, 2022, due to the activities of the traders, leading the state government to temporarily shut Eko Bridge and issue an eviction notice to traders with shops under the burnt bridge.

READ ALSO: Lagos‘ll not extend quite notice to traders under Apongbon bridge – Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Government had in April 2022, demolished shops and other structures constructed under the burnt Apongbon Bridge, in Lagos Island after the expiration of the ultimatum they issued to those traders to vacate the area.

Efforts to complete the repair works on the Apongbon Bridge by December 2022 were stalled by another fire that affected the Ijora Olopa section of the Eko Bridge on November 4.

After several delays, the Federal Government set July 15 as the new deadline for the completion of repair works and reopening of both Eko and Apongbon bridges in Lagos State to traffic.

This was further reviewed on July 9 by the Federal Government in order to relieve the stress commuters have undergone for almost one year since the bridges were closed after the Apongbon section was gutted by fire and later the Ijora Olopa section.