The Federal Government is to demolish two bridges in Lagos as part of the ongoing construction work of the $1.5bn Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project.
The bridges are Jibowu – Ojuelegba and Costain bridge which would however be rebuilt and raised to accommodate the train.
Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi disclosed this after the monthly meeting of the Project Steering Committee and inspection of the project.
Daily Trust reports that the two bridges as well as sewage and gas pipelines had delayed the commencement of work as the government interfaces with stakeholders especially the governments of Lagos and Ogun to address the challenges.
Amaechi who also visited sections of the train in Papalanto and Ewekoro in Ogun state explained that another bridge in Ijoko being constructed by the Ogun state government would be raised up.
He said, “These are problems that are expected particularly when a project like this has to cut through an urban settlement like Lagos. We will meet with the Nigerian Gas Company to resolve this very soon.”
“This is a continuation of the narrow gauge line. The narrow gauge line has to come into papalanto at Kajola and Ijoko to create space for the standard gauge line going to Ibadan.
“At Ijoko, the train will go down three metres to accommodate the overhead bridge there. There are only two bridges that will go down for the Lagos-Ibadan rail project; and they are the Jibowu to Ojuelegba overhead bridge and the constain overhead bridge.
“We will demolish them, rebuild them and raise their height so that the trains can go under them”.
