Some motorists in Lagos State on Monday said the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for repairs since Friday had increased their travel time to-and-from the Lagos Island.
The motorists decried the timing of the repairs, saying the work should have been done during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Federal Government had ordered total lockdown in Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun State for over five weeks from the end of March through early May as part of measures to curtail the spread of the pandemic.
Road users said the repair works on the bridge, which spans over 11.8km and reported to be the busiest in Nigeria, should have been done during the lockdown even though the repair of the bridge which started on Friday is expected to last six months.
The bridge alongside the Carter Bridge and Eko Bridge connect Victoria Island to the mainland.
Commenting, a motorist, Titus Ayodeji, said the Federal Government needed to attend to other major roads to reduce the hardship being faced by motorists and commuters.
Ayodeji said, “Though it would have been very good if the government had utilised the period of lockdown to work on this repairs and expedite work, to lessen the pains of people but we have no choice than to accept the situation.
“One thing I think the government should also realise is that most roads are bad generally and they need attention. For instance, vehicles fall every day on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, among others. So, the attention of the government should be holistic.
“Most of the alternative roads are not also good enough. More vehicles are going to use these alternative roads and cause traffic jam. The state of these roads is going to get worse.”
If you consider the rigor of daily transit when there was no form of closure, you can imagine what we will be going through now, especially in the afternoon with all the diversions.
Another road user, Oziegbe Okoeki, said, “The suffering of commuters and motorists are much in the state, going from Mainland to the Island every day, including weekends, even before this partial closure.
“So, the current situation has increased the pains of road users. It has increased the travel time on this major access bridge to the Island.