Mr.Godwin Eke, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, has stated that the 48 steel columns of the Eko Bridge damaged by fire in 2008 has been replaced by Nigeria’s Julius Berger Construction Company, to avoid possible collapse of the bridge.
The columns were installed on a span that was damaged by fire six years ago to make the bridge stable pending when complete rehabilitation of the bridge would be carried out.
He said that the repairs of the abutment of the Third Mainland Bridge as well as that of the Marine Beach Bridge, which was also damaged by fire, were ongoing.
“For Eko Bridge, Julius Berger has installed the steel columns to hold the bridge and we are now awaiting the procurement of the permanent works to do the full rehabilitation of the bridge.
“So, the question of the bridge collapsing is out of the question. Forty eight columns were installed to hold the bridge. We are currently working on the Third Mainland Bridge abutment by Borini Porini not Julius Berger.
“The Marine Beach Bridge has been closed for quite a while now, a local contractor, Build Well Plant Construction Limited, is handling that one, he has finished rehabilitating the under, he would start work on the surface next year.’’
To prevent the incidents from reoccurring, plans to evacuate the traders and artisans who caused the fire that damaged both Eko Bridge and the Marine Beach Bridges, the controller said that the Federal Government was planning to fence the areas.
Leave a Reply