The Lagos state government has reopened the Ojota/Maryland sections of the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge to vehicular movement.
Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, at the reopening on Monday, September 16, lamented the incessant theft of manhole covers and other bridge apparatuses.
To curb the menace, Hamzat said the government resorted to using fibre to fabricate manhole covers instead of steel.
He added that anyone caught henceforth stealing the covers will be prosecuted.
“Everybody keeps saying that maintenance of infrastructure is a challenge. But, in Lagos, we are saying it is not. This informed our decision to maintain this infrastructure and put it in good shape. The expansion joints which are necessary accessories for bridges were repaired and are now in good shape, and all the manholes that were stolen have been replaced.
“But it is important to say that these new manhole covers are fibres and not metals. So if you steal it, it is useless. But the manhole covers protect people. It is to protect human beings so they don’t fall off bridges. This is a safety issue. It is no longer steel. It is fibre and so difficult to remove. And even if you remove it, it’s useless to you, and if you are caught, you will be prosecuted.
“This administration is focused on road and bridge infrastructure to reduce travel time, save important man-hours that would have been otherwise lost to traffic; boost interconnectivity; provide better riding surface; eliminate traffic gridlocks and generally make life more meaningful to commuters.
“And because we place a high premium on the safety of lives, many pedestrian bridges have also been identified for routine maintenance.”
Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, said the bridge was completed and re-opened ahead of scheduled time because the government was eager to alleviate the suffering of road users.
The commissioner for works, Hon. Oluwasegun Osiyemi, expressed delight over the early completion, emphasising the benefits it would bring to daily commuters.
“We are pleased to inform road users that the rehabilitation of the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge has been completed earlier than expected. The bridge will reopen today, significantly ahead of schedule, with all work completed in under two months,” Osiyemi announced.
Work started on the Ojota-bound side of the Bridge on July 22 and ended on August 23, while work began on the Maryland-bound section the same day and ended on September 13.