By LYDIA NGWAKWE

The Federal Government has appealed to drivers, particularly those of articulated trucks, using the Iddo Bridge, to watch for diversion signs as height restriction barriers will soon be installed.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that these restrictions were necessary to facilitate repairs.

She said: ?I am using this medium to appeal to all the motoring public, especially the articulated trucks that have any business to do with the Iddo Bridge, coming from Apapa to Oyingbo, coming from Apapa to Carter Bridge, coming from Carter Bridge to ijora.

?If you are coming from Oyingbo and you are going to Ijora, you will use this Iddo Bridge that we are talking about.

?I am using this medium to appeal to drivers driving articulated trucks because they are the ones who are mostly affected by this announcement. That, very soon, in a couple of days, we are going to reinstall a barrier.

?We installed the barriers before. Due to some issues, we uninstalled them, and then we are planning to reinstall them, but we want to make the advocacy to go round and give drivers the ample time to absorb it before we now install the barrier again.??

The controller of works added that trucks higher than three metres would be unable to cross the bridge once the height restriction barriers are in place.

?So, we are appealing to drivers that once you approach these junctions, please slow down and look out for the diversion that is in place that will guide you to the next place that you can exit from and then continue your journey.

?Or, watch out for the traffic personnel that have been deployed to manage traffic during these periods,?? she said.

Kesha said the bridge required repairs, and these restrictions were necessary to facilitate those repairs.

She noted that the initial phase would target heavy vehicles, but eventually, even light vehicles would be affected.

She added that the ultimate goal was to improve the bridge and provide better service to the public.

The controller of works therefore, emphasised the need for patience and cooperation during the repair process.

NAN reports that the government imposed initial vehicular restrictions on the bridge on Feb. 2.

According to Kesha, a structural evaluation revealed defects in several spans of the 550-meter bridge.

She stated that repairs to the three major defective spans would take approximately six months, as the process would involve breaking down and recasting them. (NAN)

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