The Federal Ministry of Works has announced that the Marine Bridge in Lagos will be closed for 60 days beginning Sunday, April 27, 2025. This closure is part of ongoing work to fix the bridge and make it safer for road users.
Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, explained on a live TV program that the first section of the bridge will be completely shut down for 20 days. This part is expected to cause serious traffic in places like Apapa, Ijora, and Iganmu.
Many people often confuse the Marine Bridge with the Ijora Bridge, but they are different. The repairs will happen in stages. Workers will lift the bridge in three key sections to change worn-out parts known as bearings.
“This phase of the repair involves replacing about 50 bearings. To do that, we need to lift the bridge at specific points. The first section at the beginning of the bridge will require a full closure for 20 days,” she added.
After the first 20 days, the rest of the work will not require full closure.
“The second section is around the middle of the bridge, and we plan to divert traffic there. The two lanes from Iganmu will be merged, so we can shift traffic to one side for another 20 days,” she explained.
The final phase of repairs will happen near the bridge’s end, close to Area B Police Command in Apapa. Traffic will again be diverted there for another 20 days. In total, the repair project will last for about 60 days, but the worst traffic problems will likely occur in the first 20 days.
To help reduce traffic, Kesha advised drivers of heavy-duty trucks to avoid Ijora. Instead, they should take the route from Costain through Iganmu to Apapa. For smaller vehicles and trucks working near Ijora 7up, she suggested turning left at the roundabout and using the access road to reach the bridge.
Earlier in April, an unplanned bridge closure caused serious traffic issues in Lagos. This time, Kesha said they are giving early notice and have created traffic diversion plans to help drivers manage the situation better.
She also encouraged all road users to follow road signs, pay attention to diversion markings, and keep checking traffic updates throughout the 60-day repair period.
