The Lagos State Government has announced a traffic diversion to accommodate urgent repairs on the Eko Bridge, which will be carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, made this known in a statement released on Friday.
He noted that the diversion will commence on Monday, September 16, 2024, and is projected to last for a total of eight weeks.
He outlined the phased approach that will be taken during the repairs, explaining that sections of the bridge will be closed at different times, either partially or fully, based on the work schedule.
“The repairs will be carried out in four phases, during which the bridge will be intermittently fully or partially closed, depending on the work schedule,” Osiyemi stated.
In anticipation of the expected disruptions, the commissioner provided a number of alternative routes to help ease the traffic burden on commuters.
“Motorists heading to the island from Funsho Williams Avenue can make use of the service lane at Alaka to connect Costain and access Eko Bridge to continue their journeys,” he said, noting the importance of having multiple route options available.
He also advised that, “Alternatively, motorists heading to the island can access Costain to connect Eko Bridge to Apongbon for their destinations. Motorists can also connect Apongbon inwards Eko Bridge to link Costain to access Funsho Williams Avenue.”
For drivers intending to head toward Surulere, the commissioner recommended using Costain to link Breweries and proceed toward Abebe Village to connect Eric Moore/Bode Thomas, which leads directly to Surulere.
Osiyemi assured Lagosians that measures have been put in place to minimise the expected travel disruptions.
“In the same vein, motorists heading to Surulere are advised to use Costain to link Breweries inwards Abebe Village to connect Eric Moore/Bode Thomas to get to their destinations,” he noted.
He further gave assurances that Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officers will be stationed at the various alternative routes and within the repair zones to manage traffic flow and ensure that delays are kept to a minimum.
The traffic diversion and phased closures are essential to facilitate much-needed structural improvements on the Eko Bridge, which is a major link between Lagos Island and the mainland.
The government’s proactive dissemination of alternative routes aims to lessen the impact on daily commuters, ensuring smoother transitions during the repair period.
