Lagos 4th Mainland Bridge: Is This The End of This Masterpice?

The Lagos 4th Mainland Bridge was conceived in 2008 by the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration, according to the ideal, it was perceived to reduce congestion on the already congested Lagos roads, reduces long driving hours at lots more.

The 4th Mainland Bridge is a 26km state of the art bridge designed to link Ikorodu to Eti Osa Local Government Area. The design was done by Kunle Adeyemi of NLE. Kunle is a world acclaimed international Architect, he designed the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge.

According to Kunle Adeyemi, the designer of the project, He said...

To reduce this pressure, we propose an operation – the 4th Mainland Bridge. The operation will be the insertion of a bypass; a bridge within the body of Lagos. In addition to this bridge, we also propose a new heart to support the bridge. This ‘new bridge and new heart’ in the body of Lagos will not be typical infrastructure; they will connect people in large numbers and improve their natural flow through a reorganization of vehicular, waterways, and pedestrian modes of transportation.

The 2 level bridge will not only function as a means for vehicular traffic on its upper level, it will stimulate and accommodate pedestrian, social, commercial and cultural interactions on it’s lower level – ‘Lagos Life’ – with its tropical environment and intimate street level exchanges. The Fourth Mainland Bridge in conjunction with existing road networks would establish a primary ring road around Lagos. This ring road will provide alternative traffic routes from Lekki to Ikorodu, Ikeja to Ajah, relieving the 3rd Mainland bridge of its overstretched capacity.

With this improved flow of people across Lagos, the city will be relieved of traffic congestion, will maximize its great opportunities and grow better.

Things, however, took a new turn last year that is May 2017 when the Lagos state government terminated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a consortium of firms to build the 4th Mainland Bridge at the cost of N844 billion. The MoU for the 36 km bridge, which two past administrations had promised to do, was signed on 25th May 2016.

The project was to be financed by Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, and other private investors who have already signified an intention to be part of the construction, while Visible Assets Limited would be the coordinating firm. However, the Lagos Commissioner for Waterfront Development,  Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya said the LASG was shopping for new investors to take over the 4th Mainland Bridge project.

He explained that investors from various countries, which include South Korea, Europe, and America, had indicated interest in the project.

“The pace the old contractors were moving is not what we are looking for.

“Right now we are looking at many investors and the interests are high, I would rather wait till everything is finalised before giving the detailed information.

“Investors from all over the world are indicating interest, from China, South Korea, Europe, and America.

“What we are doing now is vetting through the process to make sure that we do not waste more time, very soon you will see work begin on the bridge,” he said.

It's being almost a year now and nothing has been heard, the question on our lips now is that, is this the end of 4th Mainland Bridge? Time will tell.

Photo Credit:
NLE Kunle Adeyemi