The Federal Government has declared Lagos’ Carter Bridge to be in a critical state, describing it as “irredeemable” and beyond repair.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, made the announcement on Wednesday, September 1, after inspecting the bridge’s underdeck.
“What we did today was to see whether we could salvage the ramps to cut down the cost and time of construction,” Umahi said. “That decision, we could not take. We need consultants and Julius Berger to present their findings, and we will verify them with our instruments. If confirmed, it means both the ramp and the main axial section of Carter Bridge will have to go.”
Umahi noted that the old Carter Bridge was previously demolished with explosives and its remnants remain underwater, meaning any new construction must consider navigation on the waterway.
He added that the government is exploring whether any part of the existing bridge can remain in use while plans for a new alignment are finalized.
“The critical decision we have to take is: since it seems all stakeholders agree that a new Carter Bridge should be constructed, is there any way we can repair and keep something in use while we develop a different alignment?” he said.
Umahi stressed that the government has no plans to demolish the Third Mainland Bridge, saying, “We will do everything possible to rehabilitate and maintain the existing one.”
