Nigeria’s Lagos State Government has completed the Lekki-Ikoyi
suspension bridge and it touts it not just Nigeria’s but sub-Saharan
Africa’s first.
The bridge, though 1.358km long did not come cheap. It cost about N29 billion, almost $184.6million.
The
link bridge will soon be formally commissioned by Governor Babatunde
Fashola and a toll will be collected to recoup the investment.
Commissioner
for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, at an interactive
session with newsmen said the cost of the bridge is around N29 billion
and is the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa because it is a
suspension bridge.

The new Lekki-Ikoyi suspension ridge. Inset is Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola
The
bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. and has a total length
of 1.358 km. The bridge is expected to decongest traffic in Lekki area
and is a cynosure of all eyes because of its beauty.
According to
Hamzat, Julius Berger has five years contract to maintain the bridge and
could be renewed at the expiration of the term.
“In line with the
policy of the present administration to ensure that all infrastructural
facilities in the state are in conformity with the mega city status by
the year 2015, the construction of Admiralty-Alexander (Lekki-Ikoyi)
link bridge was conceived as a solution to the problem of the perennial
traffic bottleneck on Lekki-Epe Road, particularly around the Elegushi
Round About and Lekki Phase I.
“The bridge is designed to serve as
a strategic by-pass and to reduce the travel time along Falomo Bridge,
Alfred Rewane Road, Independence Bridge and Ahmadu Bello Way. The
project will raise the property value along the corridor,” Hamzat said.
The
construction of the bridge generated employment for about 315 skilled
and unskilled labour throughout the construction period. The bridge is
expected to improve the living standard of the people and enhance social
interaction, he added.
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc began the
construction of the bridge in October, 2008. The total length of the
main bridge is 466m. The length of Cable Bridge is 170m (the suspended
section), the height of Pyron is 87m from water level navigational
requirement while the clearance average 9m above high water level.
The
width of the bridge (carriageway) is 8m by 2; walkway of the bridge,
2.0m by 2; road works at Ikoyi End is 338.7m, while the road works at
the Lekki End is 311.5m.
According to a brief from the Ministry of
Works and Infrastructure, the challenges encountered were at the two
landing points at Lekki and Ikoyi ends, but negotiations with the
affected land owners at Lekki end yielded early resolution which allowed
the contractor to commence construction works in October, 2008.
While
Lagosians await the formal opening of the bridge, checks show that the
bridge will not be Sub-saharan Africa’s first suspension bridge. But it
appears to be the longest.
The South Africans hold the record, with more than six suspension bridges, according to Kwintessential.co.uk.
“One
of the oldest bridges was constructed in 1898 and is known as the Levey
Bridge. The bridge was constructed in Tsomo, South Africa. The main
cables are wire suspension.
‘The next bridge is the Centurion,
which is a crossing bridge at The Centurion Mall. It also uses wired
cables for its suspension. It is a very important footbridge in that
region. The Johannesburg footbridge in South Africa as well as the
footbridge in Pretoria have suspension systems.
‘The Bloukrans
Bridge also known as the Afrikaans Blue Ridges is one of the arch
bridges, which were constructed near the tropical rainforest called
Nature’s Valley in Western Cape, South Africa. Completed in 1984 the
bridge spans 216 m over the Bloukrans River. It is on record as the
highest single arch bridge in the world.
‘The central span on the
bridge is 272 m and the total length of the bridge is 451m. It is
primarily utilized as a highway by a variety of trucks that cross the
bridge daily.
‘This makes it the third-highest bridge for
commercial bungee jumping at 216 m. The river below is actually the
border between the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces and is
located in the Tsitsikamma, which is part of the Garden Route.
‘The
Nelson Mandela Bridge located in Johannesburg, South Africa was
constructed in 2003 and cost a pricey R38 million. The main idea was to
link Newtown with Braamfontein, both of which are very important
business centers in Gauteng. The other objective was to provide an
uplifting and modern vista for the city. This initiative was taken by
the Blue IQ company.
‘Interestingly enough, the bridge was
constructed on top of 42 railway lines and traffic was not disturbed
during the construction of this 284 m long bridge. It is a very light
structure and engineered to use steel and concrete to keep the weight
down. It has two main pylons on the North and South, which are 42 and 27
meters in height respectively. The heavier banks flowing along the
bridge were carefully reinforced by the use of heavier back spans.’