‘Long Bridge May Soon Collapse If Care Is Not Taken’

‘Long bridge may soon collapse if care is not taken’, is the constant cry on the lips of motorists and residents within the Warewa, OPIC areas of Ogun state.

Both neigbourhoods are closer witnesses to the danger and alarm that that stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway from Km32 Warewa to Opic area Ogun State had become in the resident.

The Eagle reports that a combination of constant pressure and supposed indifference on the part of the concerned authorities to immediately fix the stretch is what is causing fears in the people.

 Our investigations show that the interstate checkpoints mounted to checkmate spread of COVID-19 worsened matters, as it forces combined weight of standing vehicles on the long bridge.

This is in addition to the rampant potholes that naturally force vehicles to go slow once within the stretch.

These have made residents, including the leader of All Nigeria Youths Reoriented Initiative, Mr Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a resident of Ibafo, Ogun State to call the attention of the federal government to the damage and danger caused by the gridlock

According to him, part of the long bridge, has shifted creating openings and endangering lives.

He added that this is coupled with the unusual vibration due to combined weight of heavy duty trucks standing literally 24hours on the road.

“You can say that this is disaster waiting and it requires the federal government to do something immediately”, he said.

For a state, he advised a measure that would curtail vehicles standing long on the bridge.

Another resident of Warewa, Mr Omotayo Adebayo, said, security check points within the stretch needed to be overhauled in such a way that weight is reduced.

According to him, that is one of ensuring longevity for the bridge.

Mr Emmanuel Omofouman, who resides in Arepo said his understanding of bridges is to provide passage for vehicles and pedestrains and not to serve as a place for vehicles to stand still.

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He said this was the major challenge facing the long bridge and ought to be checkmated.

“Aside the maintenance aspect, which is very important, much load of long truck always staying on the bridge is too heavy and can cause the bridge collapse”.