This is the project that has put Lagosians in excitement mood
– The population of Lagos is said to be about 25 million
– The pressure on roads necessitates the construction of the 4th mainland bridge
– The project was conceived about 16 years ago
The challenge of a modern infrastructure has made the construction of the 4th mainland bridge a priority. This is because the current infrastructures on ground are becoming old and are not sufficient for the booming population of the Southwest state.
One area where the insufficiency is so conspicuous is in the transportation sector, where traffic congestion has become the new name of modern Lagos.
According to experts, Lagos transportation challenge could get worse if the government does not address the infrastructure deficit, by not only expanding the old roads across the state, but as well as constructing new ones.
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On the 4th mainland bridge and the time it will take off, the government of Governor Ambode gave words of assurances that Lagos is moving towards achieving its dream. It was revealed that not only will the administration of Ambode not deliver the project, it was almost confirmed it will come with less pain.
About 2,200 houses were saved in the new alignment design, meaning a huge decrease not only in compensation, but also the cost of litigation or orders that might come from courts by aggrieved litigants over the laudable project.
4th-Mainland-Bridge
The 4th mainland bridge which is the longest of all the bridges, will link Lagos Island to the mainland, and it will not be financed by the federal government.
On completion, it would complement the Eko, Carter and Third Mainland Bridges and serve to reduce traffic on the Eastern flanks of Lagos, therefore providing a backup to the industrial development rapidly shaping up in the Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe areas.
Ganiyu Johnson, commissioner for works and infrastructure stated that the project upon completion, will connect through Lekki, Langbasa, and Baiyeku towns, on the Lagoon estuaries to Itamaga, in Ikorodu.
The 4th mainland bridge will have a ring road, and it will comprise of eight interchanges to facilitate inter-connectivity among different parts of Lagos.
A four lane dual carriage way bridge, with each comprising three lanes with two metres wide shoulder on each side, and a generous median on each side have been considered to accommodate future expansion with light rail facility.
The road would link Itoikin road, connect Ikorodu-Sagamu road to Isawo inward Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and end at Ojodu Berger axis.
“This two level bridge will not only function as a means of transportation on its upper level, but would also stimulate and accommodate social, commercial and cultural interaction of pedestrians never before experienced in these parts on such terrains on its lower level to give a typical.
“Lagos Life” feel, with its tropical environment and intimate street level exchanges.” Johnson said.
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Upon completion, the 4th mainland bridge will significanty reduce traffic congestion on the Eko, Carter and Third Mainland Bridges and change the traffic patterns drastically along the new route.
“The proposed bridge will traverse from Ajah in the Northwest to Lagos Ibadan Expressway via Ikorodu in the Southwest, a 37.9-kilometre long road that is designed with a speed limit of 140km/h.
“It will decongest traffic gridlock within the Lekki corridor and redistribute it towards mainland, improving travel experience and travel time for motorists.” Bosun Jeje, an ex-commissioner for housing seemed to have spoken the minds of many motorists when he said the bridge would end the nightmare of many.
Jeje, who hails from Lagos East Senatorial district, said a good number of Lagosians have been looking forward to the bridge.
“We have been dreaming of this bridge for a very long time. It’s coming at this time will not only relieve our nightmare, but it will advance development around the entire Lagos East Senatorial District,” he reportedly said.
A transportation expert Dr Tajudeen Bawa’ Allah described the project as a gift by Governor Ambode to Epe and Ikorodu people, who have almost lost the hope of the realisation of the bridge in their lifetime.
“For 14 years they have waited and Governor Ambode has assured us all that they only need to wait three more years to see the bridge of their dreams. What is more, the bridge is uncommon, not only because it is ground floor for commercial and other pedestrian purposes, but would have a distribution routes that would link to Ojodu Berger on the southern flanks of the state,” the erudite nonagenarian scholar said.
“We won’t mind, if our homes are destroyed during the execution of the project,” the Baale of Baiyeku Chief Saheed Ajibode said and added that the people of the area happy with the project.
Rather than protest the project that would see a major part of his settlement consumed by the project, the chief said: “We know that it is going to affect some houses, but we don’t mind. We want it.
“We are very happy about the development because it will open up this place, make us more enlightened and bring new life to Baiyeku. Rather than pick up the government, we are appealing to the government to put in more efforts in ensuring that the bridge is completed on time.”
Another resident, Pa Titus Nosiru, stated: “We have been looking forward to this development for a very long time and we are happy and we are looking forward to when these people would come and begin work.”
A leader of the Egun community, who gave his name as Timothy, said his people were happy because the fourth mainland bridge project has been long overdue.
“We welcome the project whole heartedly. There is no where any project of this nature is being undertaken that it won’t affect some houses. We have no doubt that the people affected would be compensated and as you can see, there’s no mansion anywhere here,” another lad, Stephen, said as he rows a boat ashore.
It should be recalled that idea for the 4th mainland bridge first came up in the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, almost 14 years ago.
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