The Federal Government has approved the demolition and reconstruction of the Carter Bridge in Lagos at a cost of N548.98 billion, citing severe structural deterioration beneath the water.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the decision after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council in Abuja. He explained that multiple technical assessments conducted over more than a decade revealed that the bridge’s underwater piles and pile caps had deteriorated beyond repair.
According to him, studies carried out in 2013, 2019, and a more recent review involving Julius Berger all reached the same conclusion that full reconstruction is the only viable solution.
Umahi stated that the deterioration progressed rapidly, particularly affecting critical underwater components, making rehabilitation impractical.
The reconstruction contract has been awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation following a competitive bidding process that included firms such as Julius Berger, CBC, and China Harbour High Tech.
He noted that the redesigned bridge will be longer and structurally upgraded to ease traffic congestion. The length will increase from 1.525 kilometres to 1.93 kilometres, with the addition of a flyover ramp to eliminate existing bottlenecks.
The new structure will also include dual navigational waterways measuring 105 metres each to improve marine movement across the Lagos Lagoon.
In a related development, the council approved N24.89 billion for the rehabilitation of underwater components of the Third Mainland Bridge, with Julius Berger handling the project ahead of the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu on May 29.
The Carter Bridge, one of Lagos’ oldest transport links, connects Lagos Island to the mainland and has long been a critical route for commuters. Experts attribute its deterioration to age, heavy traffic load, and prolonged exposure to a corrosive saltwater environment.
