Federal Government Weighs Full Replacement of Lagos Bridges as Repair Costs Rise

The Federal Government is reviewing proposals for the rehabilitation and possible full replacement of some of Lagos’ ageing bridges after fresh engineering assessments uncovered severe structural damage beneath key crossings linking Lagos Island to the mainland.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, said ongoing technical evaluations showed that while above-water rehabilitation works had recorded progress, deeper underwater defects on bridges such as Carter Bridge and Third Mainland Bridge raised concerns about the long-term viability of continued repairs.

According to the minister, the government is now considering whether it would be more economical to fully reconstruct some bridges instead of continuing expensive rehabilitation projects. Earlier proposals reviewed by the ministry showed that repairing Carter Bridge could cost as much as N380bn, while replacing it with a new cable-stayed structure was initially estimated at about N320bn.

Umahi said investigations conducted in 2013, 2019 and under the current administration revealed severe underwater deterioration, including corroded piles and detached pile caps.

He noted that experts from within and outside Nigeria agreed that Carter Bridge could no longer be salvaged.

The Federal Executive Council has since approved the demolition and reconstruction of Carter Bridge at a revised cost of N548.98bn, with officials saying the new structure will be expanded from 1.525km to 1.93km and fitted with additional flyover ramps to reduce traffic congestion.

Umahi explained that the government’s decision followed consultations with contractors and engineers, including representatives of Julius Berger, who reportedly advised that a completely new structure could provide a lifespan of up to 100 years and attract international financing support.

While reconstruction plans for Carter Bridge are already advancing, the government separately approved N24.89bn for underwater rehabilitation works on Third Mainland Bridge, with Julius Berger handling the project.

Officials say the Lagos bridge network remains under intense pressure from decades of heavy traffic and harsh marine conditions, forcing authorities to rethink long-term infrastructure strategies for some of the country’s busiest transport corridors.