The Federal Government has set a 12-month timeline for the reconstruction of Carter Bridge in Lagos.

This brings forward the completion schedule for the strategic 1.58-kilometre bridge.

Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, disclosed this during an inspection of the Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge projects, saying the government was accelerating the work because of the bridge’s importance to vehicular movement in Lagos.

Umahi said the bridge, which has been in use for more than six decades, had developed serious structural problems due to years of inadequate maintenance, underwater pile damage, rust, scouring and illegal sand mining.

He said the redesigned bridge would feature additional ramps, an elevated carriageway and a cable-stayed section to improve traffic flow and provide adequate navigational clearance. He added that piling was expected to commence before the end of the week, while additional protective measures would be deployed to safeguard the foundations.

The minister said the bridge could not be completely closed during reconstruction because of its importance to Lagos traffic. “If we close Carter Bridge, Lagos will go into katakata (chaos). That is why we are maintaining it while the reconstruction is going on,” he said.