The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, on Wednesday announced that the ongoing emergency rehabilitation of the Eko Bridge linking Alaka is almost completed and will be ready for use in October.
Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while inspecting the bridge in Lagos on Wednesday that the new bearings had arrived from overseas and had been replaced along with the expansion joints.
He disclosed that the bridge will be ready for use before the end of October.
“We have removed the damaged expansion joint on Eko Bridge; we have also removed the bearings and replaced the damaged bearings with new ones.
“It was the bearings that failed initially and that is why we have the piers that are being worked on. Now, we have put the new bearings and we want to complete the concrete works on the piers.
“Then we will go on top of the bridge and replace the expansion joint before we open it to traffic.
“Before the end of October, we are going to open this section of Eko Bridge (linking Alaka) to traffic.
“The construction materials we were expecting from Europe have arrived, that is why we are fixing them at this point.
“The bearing has already been fixed there (pointing); what is on top this iron is the jack that we used in lifting the deck of the bridge up, then we now put the bearings on top of the piers.
“That bearing is like the pad that is carrying the load,” he said.
He said that the new bearings would be covered with concrete, assuring that the bridge would be completed and reopened to traffic before the end of October.
The Federal Government had on March 10 closed the Alaka Bridge linking Eko Bridge in Lagos for emergency repairs.
