Lagos has started the Carter Bridge demolition, the 125-year-old crossing is coming down for a new one and replacement will cost ₦548.98 billion.
Workers began tearing into the bridge this week. Officials say the old structure can no longer be trusted. Divers and geologists checked its underwater parts. They found some support piles had come loose.
Works Minister David Umahi described the damage in blunt terms. He said it was like “having the leg removed from the hip.” Rust, erosion, and illegal sand mining made things worse over the decades.
The government first gave the project 36 months to finish. Umahi now wants it done in 24 months instead. He says the bridge matters too much to Lagos traffic to wait longer.
The new bridge will stretch 1.93 kilometres, longer than the current one. Engineers added a flyover ramp to ease congestion nearby. A cable-stayed section will also rise above the water for ships to pass safely.
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) is handling the build. The firm has already finished about 15% of early groundwork. Piling work is expected to start before the week ends.
Despite the Carter Bridge demolition, officials insist the crossing will stay partly open. Umahi warned that a full shutdown would cause chaos.
“If we close Carter Bridge, Lagos will go into katakata,” he said.
Motorists should expect shifting traffic patterns as work moves forward. Eko Bridge and Third Mainland Bridge may see heavier loads meanwhile.
