Federal Government Announces Closure Of Ijora Bridge

By Mohammed Adekola

Federal government have announced the closure of the Ijora Bridge in Lagos, starting April 27, to facilitate critical repairs, raising concerns about potential traffic disruptions on one of the busiest routes to Apapa.

During an inspection yesterday, Monday April 21, Olukorede Kesha, the federal controller of works, said the bridge deck would be lifted to replace nearly 50 defective bearings — components crucial to the bridge’s structural stability.

“This bridge has been awarded for some time now in different phases. We are now at the final phase, which involves lifting the entire bridge deck to change the faulty bearings beneath.

“A lot of the bearings are defective, and approximately 50 of them will be replaced across three sections,” Kesha said.

Kesha acknowledged that the closure would cause disruptions but stressed it was necessary for commuter safety.

“It won’t collapse, but it definitely needs help. If you drive on the bridge now, you will feel vibrations. That is because the bearings, the spring-like supports under the deck, have weakened significantly,” she said.

To mitigate traffic congestion, the ministry has mapped out diversion routes. Motorists from Ijora will be redirected through Seven Up Roundabout to reconnect to Apapa, while heavy-duty vehicles will pass through Costain via Iganmu.

“This is the first major repair work on the Ijora bridge since it was constructed decades ago.

“The initial lifting and bearing replacement will require full closure, but later stages like asphalt replacement might be done on Sundays to reduce traffic impact,” Kesha noted.

She emphasised that the closure, mandated by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, will be widely publicised to ensure public awareness.

“We want members of the public to know that this is for their safety. With their cooperation, we can finish this work in time and restore the bridge to a much safer condition.”