Third Mainland Bridge’ll Not Collapse – Works Minister

The Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen has denied insinuations that the third mainland bridge will soon collapse, adding that the federal government is committed to take proactive steps to ensure that the bridge is kept in an acceptable service condition.
The minister who made the statement yesterday in an interview in his office also said the speculations were based on mere perception as there is no civil engineering test to justify the statement.
He stated that the ministry is progressing to ensuring routine maintenance, adding that the defect on the eight expansion joints of the bridge were repaired and replaced since last year.
Onolememen noted that although serious steel casing corrosion was noticeable, he pointed out that it had no structural function regarding the pile bearing capacity, as they served only as form works to the piles.
He further advised the general public to ignore the threat as the Third Mainland Bridge is not in any way defective; assuring that he drove on the bridge twice last week on different days, asking “road users to continue using the bridge”
On the origin of the story, the Minister said that the report being quoted originated from the ministry which was for under water inspection.
He maintained that the structural integrity of the bridge was not in any doubt as further tests by reputable engineering companies has confirmed the adequacy of pile concrete quality adding that based on their advice, the ministry is ensuring continuous routine maintenance works.