Why repairs on Third Mainland bridge are inconclusive —Works ministry

Further details emerged at the weekend on why the Federal Ministry of Works did not complete the repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge before opening it for public use two weeks ago.
Sources at the ministry told the Nigerian Tribune that a technical session of directors and the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, was called last week to review the situation following an exclusive story of the Nigerian Tribune which exposed some cracks on the bridge last Tuesday.
It was gathered that the meeting identified the reasons why certain repairs could not be carried out simultaneously, while the minister also gave stern warning to his directors on the need to avoid laxity in the handling of the bridge.
A source close to the meeting confirmed that the repair works carried out on the bridge is classified as routine and that some of the cracks could not be handled because there was the need to avoid a clash on the spots between workers of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Borini Prono, who are handling the expansion joints.
The source said: “The Third Mainland Bridge is under routine maintenance by FERMA and it would have been unfair for them to embark on maintenance at the same time the expansion joints were being rehabilitated by Boroni Prono.”
It was gathered that FERMA had earlier in the year taken inventory of all the works needed to be carried out on the bridge, leading to the approval of the rehabilitation works.
According to the source, FERMA had reckoned that the repair works would cover the cracks on the expressway, replacement of railings, and reactivation of the entire street lights on the bridge, among others.