THE Federal Ministry of Works has set the speed limit for the recently reopened Third Mainland Bridge at 80 kilometres per hour, following extensive repairs over a period of five months.
This just as a crash, attributed to over-speeding occurred on the newly opened bridge linking Lagos mainland with the island.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, while highlighting measures to prevent misuse of the bridge and mitigate potential accidents, emphasised that speed limit signs have been strategically positioned along the bridge to alert motorists to the designated speed limit.
She also disclosed that the Lagos State Government intends to install speed cameras to enforce compliance, saying: “To avoid loss of lives, designed speed limit for the Third Mainland Bridge have been installed and it is 80km /hr.
“In conjunction with the Lagos State Government, speed limit cameras would be installed to catch anyone over-speeding on the bridge.”
Kesha further disclosed that over-speeding defaulters on the bridge would face penalties imposed by the Lagos State Government when renewing their driving licences to serve as a deterrent to prevent further violations.
She disclosed that security personnel have been deployed to the bridge to ensure motorists comply with regulations and prevent any abuses.
Already, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, confirmed the developments, saying: “You’ll see speed limit signs and the speed cameras would come on.
“The speed cameras are there. So, if you go beyond the speed limit, the camera would take a picture of your car and plate number.” t
Similarly, the Lagos Sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called for safe driving on the bridge, following an accident occurred on it on Thursday, April 4.
There was a collision involving three vehicles, inward Iyana-Oworo axis, on the bridge on the day it was fully reopened to traffic after months of partial closure, which the corps described as an avoidable crash, blamed on negligence.
The Sector Commander, Babatunde Farinloye, said on Friday, April 5, in Lagos, that the people installing information device did not properly place the caution sign to alert others on the work they were doing.
“The vehicles coming were not concentrating and this is connected with the attitude of drivers. Driving needs 100 per cent concentration, as with lack of concentration, there is bound to be crash.
“There was no injury, it was just minor damage of vehicle. The first one hit the vehicle that was parked on the speed lane and the second one rammed into that one,” he explained.
He advised motorists to drive cautiously, reiterating the need to comply with the 80 kilometre per hour speed limit on the bridge, noting: “FRSC Lagos admonishes motorists not to exceed speed limit, because speed indeed thrills, but kills.”
