Carter Bridge in Lagos No Longer Suitable, Says FG

Bennett Oghifo

The federal government is considering replacing the Carter Bridge in Lagos because its engineers have determined that the bridge could collapse, causing death and destruction of property.

According to the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, who inspected the bridge on Wednesday, “The situation of Carter Bridge is so critical, and it seems that all stakeholders have agreed that Carter Bridge is no longer suitable.

“If the observations are as they have been sent to us, then it means that both the ramp and the main actual section of the Carter Bridge have to go.”

Umahi said a final decision on the fate of the bridge would be made in two weeks time after a final inspection.

He said, “In the meantime, various experts have been deployed, and you’ll be hearing from us the final determination of this matter.”

The government also wants to remove a broken section of the bridge jotting out of water because it could cause harm to boat riders, saying, “Whatever we are doing, we have to consider removal of that so as not to affect our navigational activities.

“Both the ramps and axle section of the Carter Bridge will have to go. We are also aware that the previous Carter Bridge, which was demolished by explosives, is still in the water; so, we have to consider the removal so it won’t affect our navigational activities.”

Also, he said the government does not intend to reconstruct the Third Mainland Bridge, as being rumored. “The ministry is not buying the idea of a fresh Third Mainland Bridge. We will do everything to rehabilitate the Third Mainland Bridge. But for Carter Bridge, the decision of all stakeholders is that we have to do away with it,” Umahi said.

“With what we have observed, Julius Berger should go back and write their investigative report on each of the pier caps for both Carter and Third Mainland bridges. We have insisted that the situation of Carter Bridge is critical, and it seems that all stakeholders have agreed that Carter Bridge is irredeemable, but what we did today (Wednesday) was to see how we can salvage the ramps so we can cut down cost and time of construction.

“We could not make the decision; so, we need consultants and Julius Berger to tell us their observations. We have instruments to determine if the observations are right or wrong.

“The critical decision we have to take is that, since it seems that all stakeholders have agreed that a new Carter Bridge should be constructed. Are we demolishing and following the existing one, or is there any way we can salvage and repair to be in use while we take a different alignment? We are coming back to Lagos to determine that, but in the meantime, we’ve advertised for public engagement and an expert to let us know the technical information, technical design and idea for Third Mainland and Carter Bridge, but the ministry is not buying the idea of a new Third
Mainland Bridge. We will do everything to rehabilitate the Third Mainland Bridge, and for Carter Bridge, the decision is that we have to do away with it.”

The ministry, Umahi said, has resolved to use the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to finance these projects, stating that competent indigenous construction companies would not be limited to contracts below N20 billion. “We have said that expatriates will no longer do a job below N20 billion. Competent indigenous contractors will always compete with expatriates for jobs in billions and trillions. We are not limiting local contractors to jobs below N20 billion. Bigger indigenous contractors will also compete with expatriates on jobs above N20 billion.”

On the safety and durability of bridges in the country, he appealed to owners of haulage trucks to stop parking them on bridges across the country.