Federal Government has directed the immediate closure of the Ijora-Olopa Bridge following the discovery that some miscreants have tampered with the major reinforcement elements of the deck from underneath.
Gatekeepers News reports that the discovery has led to the failure of a section of the Bridge along Ijora Olopa Road, beside Water Corporation, Ijora, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, through his Special Adviser on Communications, Hakeem Bello.
The failed section is the Ijora-Olopa inward Ijora-Oloye–Apapa axis.
Roads leading directly to the Bridge such as Costain inward Eko Bridge and Carter Bridge descent inward Ijora Oloye have, as a result, been closed to traffic.
“Working with the Lagos state government and other traffic management authorities, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos has also issued the following Traffic Advisory to ensure that motorists and other members of the commuting public are able to use alternative routes.
“From Eko Bridge motorists should take IGANMU/ SIFAX to Ijora-Oloye or Apapa.
“From Iddo to Ijora-Oloye/Apapa; traffic will be diverted at the intersection underpass at Ijora Olopa on contraflow, and reconnected at the U-Turn to Ijora-Oloye or Apapa.”
Fashola has on several occasions asked illegal squatters occupying Lagos under-bridges to quit as fire incidents and other illegal activities underneath such bridges often result in extensive damage to the vital infrastructure constructed with the nation’s scarce resources.
