Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured residents that the completed Opebi-Odoiya Alaro Bridge will open to traffic once the installation of a steel monument on the structure is safely concluded.
The governor gave the assurance during an unscheduled inspection on Sunday, saying the bridge would be available for use during the **Yuletide**.
Sanwo-Olu visited the site to assess Julius Berger’s progress on the 25-metre-high ornament and establish why the bridge had not opened as previously anticipated.
He explained that the monument was not included in the original bridge design but was introduced during the final stage of construction, delaying the opening.
The governor appealed to motorists for patience, stressing that the installation required careful engineering to ensure public safety.
He recalled that he had earlier announced an end-of-September opening based on the work schedule presented to him.
“But, we are approaching the end of October and the work is yet to be completed. As a responsible Governor, I needed to come and find out personally what caused the delay and the issues around the work,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the monument was designed to preserve the history of the site, which is associated with a cane market and the craft of cane weaving.
The steel ornament, he said, would depict four hands weaving cane, reflecting the vocation for which the location was known while enhancing the bridge’s appearance.
According to him, the installation involves approximately 300 tonnes of steel at a height of about 25 metres. Three of the four steel hands had been assembled and installed, with work on the final section set to begin.
“This is an extreme engineering process. We must ensure that the steels are safely fitted before the infrastructure is open to traffic. That is why I have come to the site myself,” he said.
The governor put work on the monument at 80 per cent completion, explaining that a few more days would be required to install the fourth steel beam before other planned features were added.
He said the additional work would turn the bridge into a distinctive landmark that combined transport infrastructure with an expression of Lagos’s heritage.
“If we have waited this long to ensure we deliver a bridge that every Lagosian will be proud of, we cannot short-change ourselves,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu commended officials of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the construction workers for their efforts, while urging them to increase the pace of installation.
He expressed confidence that the completed project would improve the commuting experience and enhance the appearance of the corridor.
“This bridge will not only provide new commuting experience for Lagos motorists, it would also be a new site for recreation, tourism and a place of heritage,” he said.