The Federal Government has announced that the Ijora Bridge in Lagos will be completely closed from April 27 to allow for important repair work.
According to Mrs Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, the bridge needs urgent attention because many of the bearings underneath about 50 in total are damaged and need to be replaced.
These bearings act like springs, supporting the bridge deck, and their failure has caused noticeable vibrations.
She explained that this is the final phase of the repair project, which involves lifting the entire bridge to change the faulty parts.
The Ijora Bridge is a key route that connects to Apapa, where Nigeria’s busiest ports Tincan and Apapa ports—are located.
Kesha admitted that the closure will cause inconvenience, but stressed that the repairs are necessary for public safety and to prevent worse damage in the future.
To manage traffic, cars coming from Ijora will be redirected through the Seven Up Roundabout, while heavy vehicles will be diverted through Costain and Iganmu.
Kesha said the Federal Ministry of Works has carefully planned these routes to reduce traffic problems.
She also noted that the repair work would be carried out as quickly as possible, with some parts possibly done on Sundays to ease the impact on motorists.
She assured the public that although the bridge won’t collapse, it does need urgent work.
This will be the first major repair since the bridge was built decades ago.
She also said the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has instructed that such closures should be well-publicised so the public can prepare.
Kesha asked for patience and cooperation from road users to help the project succeed.
