While Senator Ashafa raised an alarm over the poor state of the bridge yesterday at a press conference, the Federal Government said there is no cause for alarm over the condition of the bridge.
The Director of Highways Design (Bridges), Federal Ministry of Works, Aniete Effiong, allayed fears of imminent collapse of the bridge.
Ashafa who addressed a conference at his Magodo residence, said the the bridge between Adeniji Adele, Adekunle and Oworonshoki ends could collapse and demanded a thorough investigation of the integrity and safety of the bridge..
He called for a comprehensive repair to be carried out on the foundation immediately.
He warned that a delay could lead to the collapse of the bridge.
He noted that the collapse of the bridge could lead to a huge loss of lives and worsen the traffic situation in Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria.
He urged the Federal Government to carry out an inspection of all over-water bridges in Nigeria to save them from further deterioration and collapse.
He disclosed that a motion he co-sponsored with 55 other senators also called for an investigation to ascertain the true state of the bridge.
Senator Ashafa said there had been incessant complaints of shifting and unusual vibrations on the bridge by commuters plying the bridge for sometime now.
He said a report produced by a company experienced in underwater survey indicated that the underwater metal casing, housing the concrete piles on which the bridge stands have rusted and this accounted for the vibration experienced in some portions of the bridge.
He added that this led to the closure of the bridge for repairs between 7 July and 30 October, 2012 by the Federal Ministry of Works.
He explained further that Professor JHT Kim, Head of The Concrete Structural Engineering Laboratory, Yousei University, Seoul, South Korea came on research in December 2012 and conducted an underwater examination of the structures holding the bridge and reported that the damages to the structure was worse than what he had been briefed.
Ashafa noted that the Professor’s report indicated that there was progressive steel caisson deterioration in about 1,318 foundation piles and that there was extensive reinforcement bar deterioration in 8 piles.
Ashafa described the repair works embarked upon during the last quarter of 2012 by the Federal Ministry of Works as mere window dressing on the expansion joints.
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