The Federal Government has reduced the completion timeline for the reconstruction of Lagos’ Carter Bridge from 36 to 24 months.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the revised target on Monday, August 24, 2026, during an inspection of the Carter Bridge and Iddo Bridge projects in Lagos.
Umahi said the decision was driven by the bridge’s strategic importance and the deterioration of its underwater foundations.
He said assessments conducted in 2013, 2019 and under the present administration found severe damage to the bridge’s piles and pile caps, with rust, scouring and illegal sand mining also contributing to the deterioration.
The Federal Executive Council approved N548.98 billion for the complete reconstruction on April 30, 2026, after engineers determined that the affected underwater components could no longer be effectively rehabilitated.
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) was awarded the contract following a competitive bidding process, with the project formally handed over to the company on May 6, 2026.
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The replacement will feature additional ramps, an elevated carriageway arrangement and a cable-stayed section designed to improve traffic flow and marine navigation. It will also include two 105-metre navigational spans and protective works around the foundations.
CCECC has completed preliminary mobilisation, including its project yard and access roads, while piling is expected to begin shortly.
The existing bridge will remain open during construction to minimise disruption along the busy Lagos Island-mainland corridor.
The approach contrasts with the traffic restrictions used during rehabilitation of Third Mainland Bridge, which was fully reopened on February 27, 2021, after extensive repairs.
Carter Bridge has served as a major Lagos Island-mainland link for more than six decades. Its replacement is expected to improve connectivity, traffic movement and structural safety.
With construction gathering pace, the government now faces the twin challenge of maintaining traffic flow and delivering the N548.98 billion project within the revised 24-month deadline.