FG to Complete Reconstruction of Lagos’ Carter Bridge Within 24 Months – Umahi

The Federal Government has announced that the reconstruction of the iconic Carter Bridge in Lagos will be completed within 24 months, instead of the 36 months initially scheduled for the project.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this on Monday, August 24, 2026, while inspecting ongoing preparatory works on the Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge in Lagos.

Umahi said the government was accelerating the project because of the bridge’s critical importance to vehicular movement and the wider transportation network in Lagos.

The Carter Bridge, which is about 1.58 kilometres long, has served Lagos for more than six decades but has suffered significant structural deterioration due to years of inadequate maintenance.

According to the minister, detailed structural and underwater assessments revealed serious defects in the bridge’s foundation.

He said several piles had detached from their pile caps, while rust, scouring and illegal sand mining had also contributed to the deterioration of the structure.

Umahi explained that the findings made it impossible to simply rehabilitate the existing bridge, leading the Federal Government to opt for complete demolition and reconstruction.

“This is not just rehabilitation. It is a complete rebuilding to modern standards,” the minister said.

### New Carter Bridge to feature major engineering upgrades

Umahi said the new Carter Bridge would not simply replicate the existing structure.

According to him, the Federal Government has approved a new design incorporating engineering features aimed at improving traffic flow, navigation and the long-term durability of the bridge.

The redesigned bridge will have additional ramps intended to ease congestion around the approach sections.

The minister also disclosed that one carriageway would be built above another in some sections to improve traffic movement.

A cable-stayed section will also be incorporated into the new structure to provide sufficient clearance for navigation.

Umahi said the new design would contain 105 spans and incorporate measures to protect the bridge's foundations from erosion and scouring.

The minister expressed confidence that the redesigned structure would have a significantly longer lifespan than the existing bridge.

### Reconstruction work already underway

Although the main reconstruction is still at its preparatory stage, Umahi said the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), had already completed about 15 per cent of preliminary activities.

The contractor has established a project yard and constructed access roads to facilitate construction activities.

According to the minister, piling work is expected to commence before the end of the week.

The government is also putting additional protective measures in place, including the use of gabions to protect the bridge foundations against erosion and scouring.

Umahi said the government would continue to monitor the existing bridge throughout the reconstruction period.

This is because the Carter Bridge cannot simply be shut down for the entire duration of construction.

“If we close Carter Bridge, Lagos will go into katakata (chaos). That is why we are maintaining it while the reconstruction is going on,” the minister said.

### Why the bridge cannot be completely closed

The Carter Bridge is one of the major links between Lagos Island and the mainland and carries a substantial volume of traffic every day.

Consequently, the government intends to keep traffic moving while construction progresses.

Umahi said regular monitoring and maintenance would be carried out on the existing structure to ensure it remains safe for use until the replacement bridge is ready.

The approach is expected to minimise the disruption that a complete closure could cause to traffic in Lagos.

### Iddo Bridge also undergoing reconstruction

During the inspection, Umahi also reviewed work on the Iddo Bridge.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, told the minister that three spans of the bridge — spans 13, 14 and 15 — had failed completely and had been replaced.

He said the newly reconstructed section had been cast and elevated to provide improved clearance underneath the bridge.

Dare said the concrete would be allowed to cure before traffic is transferred to the completed section and work begins on the other side.

He also reported substantial progress on drainage and Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) works, which he said were about 90 per cent completed.

According to him, the Iddo Bridge intervention is expected to be completed within two months.

### Federal Government previously approved full reconstruction

The decision to completely reconstruct Carter Bridge followed technical assessments which concluded that the ageing structure could no longer be effectively rehabilitated.

The Federal Executive Council had earlier approved the demolition and reconstruction of the bridge after engineering assessments identified severe deterioration in its underwater components.

The government subsequently approved funding for the project and moved towards replacing the ageing structure with a modern bridge.

The latest announcement by Umahi means the Federal Government is now targeting a 24-month completion period, four months short of the original 36-month schedule.

The minister said the accelerated timeline reflected the importance of the bridge to Lagos and the need to minimise the impact of construction on traffic.

The project is expected to significantly change the appearance and functionality of one of Lagos' most recognisable bridges when completed.