The Federal Government has reduced the planned completion period for the reconstruction of Carter Bridge in Lagos from 36 to 24 months, Works Minister Dave Umahi said during an inspection of the project on Monday.

Umahi inspected the Carter and Iddo Bridges alongside Minister of State for Works Mohammed Goronyo and members of the National Assembly, including House of Representatives Committee on Works Chairman Akin Alabi.

Government Moves to Avoid Traffic Crisis

Umahi said the decision to accelerate the project was driven by Carter Bridge’s importance to Lagos traffic.

He explained that completely shutting the bridge during reconstruction would cause serious disruption across the city. The existing structure will therefore remain in use while reconstruction continues.

Temporary measures include maintaining the top decking, improving its condition, installing solar lighting and carrying out work on sections beneath the bridge.

Ageing Bridge Found to Have Serious Defects

Carter Bridge is about 1.58 kilometres long and has been in operation for more than six decades with inadequate maintenance. Its typical design lifespan is about 50 years.

According to Umahi, an underwater survey found that several piles had detached from their pile caps, while the structure also showed significant rust, corrosion and scouring. He also linked some of the deterioration to illegal sand mining.

The minister compared the condition of some of the bridge’s foundations to “having the leg removed from the hip”, stressing the seriousness of the structural defects.

New Design Includes Cable-Stayed Section

Umahi said a new design for the bridge has been completed, with additional ramps planned to improve traffic flow.

The redesigned structure will feature one carriageway above another and a cable-stayed section with 105-metre navigational spans. The minister said the design combines improved durability with modern engineering and aesthetics.

The reconstruction involves the demolition and replacement of the ageing structure. Some project reports have put the new bridge length at about 1.93 kilometres, while the contract has previously been valued at approximately ₦548.98 billion.

China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) is handling the project.

Piling Expected to Begin Soon

Umahi said preparatory work is about 15 per cent complete, including the acquisition of a project yard and construction of access roads.

He said piling is expected to begin before the end of the week and expressed confidence in the contractor’s ability to deliver the project within the revised timeline.

The minister also thanked the National Assembly for its support as the Federal Government moves to rebuild one of Lagos’s major transport links.