The federal government has approved plans to either rehabilitate or completely rebuild the Third Mainland at a cost of N3.8 trillion, an amount nearly 180 times the N21 billion spent on emergency repairs just nine months ago.
Speaking after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Dave Umahi, minister of Works, said underwater and structural assessments of the bridge revealed severe damage caused by illegal sand mining, erosion, and corrosion to its piles and piers.
He said underwater investigations in 2013 and 2019 revealed that the bridges’ piers, once held in place by sand, had suffered significant deterioration due to illegal sand mining, ocean currents, and corrosion.
Umahi said that while Carter Bridge is beyond repair, with a feasible replacement estimated at N359 billion, rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge is estimated at N3.8 trillion, while new construction would cost about N3.6 trillion.
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Speaking further, the minister said FEC granted four approvals for the projects, which include the use of seven specialist contractors to undertake comprehensive investigations, design, and bidding for the bridge’s reconstruction or rehabilitation.
He stated that the project would be funded through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, and the selective procurement method would be used for the EPC+F works. Also, private sector financing will be explored with discussions already ongoing with Deutsche Bank.
“The Carter Bridge was beyond repair. They gave us a cost of about N380 billion for rehabilitation but said it was not feasible. But the feasible one was about 359 billion for new brand bridge and they discussed with the Dutch bank for their funding.
“To allow not less than seven specialist contractors to undertake a comprehensive investigation, comprehensive design, and a bidding to reconstruct brand new bridges or to do rehabilitation of these two bridges.
“So these were the four approvals that the federal executive council gave to us. So we should go ahead under the selective method of procurement to ask for EPC+F,” he said.
“When we did a pro rata of what is to be done if we are to rehabilitate, it came to about 3.8 trillion and if we are to do a new construction, it came to about 3.6 trillion and so we approached the Federal Executive Council and said, ‘look, give us approval …to do two things under Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) arrangement,” he said.
The Third Mainland Bridge
The Third Mainland Bridge, constructed between 1976 and 1990, was once the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge in Cairo was completed.
The bridge, a critical transport link for Lagos’ estimated 20 million residents, is vital to the transportation system in Lagos, connecting the mainland to the island. However, decades of use have taken a toll on the bridge’s structure, making it increasingly vulnerable to damage.
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In November 2023, the FG, in conjunction with the Lagos State Government, launched a N21.074 billion emergency repair of the Third Mainland Bridge.
The intervention involved resurfacing works, replacement of expansion joints and guardrails, application of fresh asphalt, installation of solar-powered street lighting, and lane markings.
Umahi explained the expanded scope was necessary to restore the bridge’s integrity, as previous overlay layers of asphalt had added excessive dead load.
