The Federal Government has announced plans to demolish the 124-year-old Carter Bridge in Lagos, calling it structurally unfit and beyond repair.

Dave Umahi, minister of Works, disclosed this during an inspection of the bridge’s underdeck, revealing that technical reports from Julius Berger Plc and other consultants confirmed that both the main axial section and ramps of the bridge had failed integrity tests.

“What we did today was to see whether we can salvage the ramps so that we can cut down the cost of construction and the time of construction. But if the observations sent to us are correct, it means that both the ramp and the main axial section of the Carter Bridge will have to go,” Umahi said.

The Carter Bridge was commissioned in 1901 as the first bridge linking Lagos Island to the mainland. It has undergone several reconstructions but remains a vital artery for millions of commuters and traders daily.

It was named after Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter, the former governor of the Lagos Colony. The original wooden structure was a revolutionary advancement for transportation in the city, which had previously relied on canoes and ferries.

The bridge was later rebuilt and upgraded to a concrete and steel structure to accommodate Lagos’ growing population, and it’s also one of the three major bridges connecting the island to the mainland today, alongside the Third Mainland Bridge and the Eko Bridge.

Umahi stressed that while the government will independently verify the technical reports, all stakeholders agreed that a new bridge is urgently needed.

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He added that remnants of the original bridge, demolished with explosives decades ago, still disrupt navigation and would have to be cleared before new works begin.

The minister assured that ongoing discussions will determine if any component of the current bridge can be preserved, but safety and long-term sustainability will guide the final decision. (Businessday)