Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that the construction of the long-awaited Fourth Mainland Bridge will commence in the first quarter of this year, with groundbreaking expected by the end of March or April.
During his keynote address at the Lagos West Senatorial District Town Hall Meeting held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu provided insights into the much-anticipated project and outlined key details.
Here is everything you need to know about this highly anticipated bridge project:
- Project Overview: The Fourth Mainland Bridge is a 38km-long project initiated by the Lagos State Government. It will connect Lagos Island through Langbasa and Baiyeku in Ikorodu across the Lagos Lagoon to Itamaga in Ikorodu.
- Carriageway Configuration: The bridge will feature a 2 x 4 lane carriageway cross-sectional road with provision for a Bus Rapid Transit Lane and future road contraction.
- Previous Plans: Initially scheduled for construction in 2017 with an estimated completion date of 2019 and a budget of approximately N844 billion, the project faced delays and did not commence as planned.
- Historical Context: The commencement of the Fourth Mainland Bridge construction comes 57 years after the creation of Lagos State in 1967 and 34 years after the completion of the Third Mainland Bridge in 1990.
- Preferred Bidder: In December 2022, the CCECC-CRCCIG CONSORTIUM was announced as the preferred bidder for the project, following a selection process facilitated by the Office of Public Private Partnership.
- Funding Model: The project, estimated to cost about $2.5 billion, will be executed through a public-private partnership initiative and is expected to be tolled for two years.
- Projected Timeline: Construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge, once commenced, is projected to be completed by 2027, according to previous announcements.
- Road Alignments: Eight existing roads, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Igbogbo-Lagos Road, will be aligned with the Fourth Mainland Bridge to facilitate seamless connectivity.
- Traffic Relief: The bridge is anticipated to alleviate traffic congestion by serving as a complement to existing bridges such as the Eko, Carter, and Third Mainland Bridges.
- Infrastructure Features: Upon completion, the Fourth Mainland Bridge will become the second-longest bridge in Africa, featuring three toll plazas, nine interchanges, a 4.5-kilometre Lagoon Bridge, and an eco-friendly environment. It will also be the longest bridge connecting Lagos Island to the mainland.
