Carter Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Carter Bridge built in 1901 is one of three bridges connecting Lagos Island
, Lagos
, Nigeria
to the mainland, the other two being the Third Mainland
and Eko
bridges. At the time of its construction, this was the only bridge connection between the mainland and Lagos Island. The bridge starts from Iddo on the mainland and ends at the Idumota area of Lagos Island.
The Carter Bridge was originally constructed by the British colonial government, prior to Nigerian independence in 1960. After independence, the bridge was dismantled, redesigned and rebuilt during the late 1970s. The Alaka-Ijora flyover, on the Iddo end of the span was completed in 1973.
The parking of vehicles on the bridge has resulted in both severe road congestion in addition to contributing to its rapid deterioration. In 2003, the Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers noted that the parking of vehicles along the span may result in collapse if left unaddressed. To address this issue, the Lagos State government has instituted a ₦ 50,000 fine for persons parking their vehicles along the span. Additionally, in April 2006, the Lagos State Transport Commissioner announced that all commercial vehicles would be banned from entering Lagos Island by way of the Carter Bridge to keep buses and other vehicles from parking on the bridge.
Lagos Island
Lagos Island is the principal and central local government area of the Metropolitan Lagos in Nigeria. It is part of the Lagos Division. As of the preliminary 2006 Nigerian census, the LGA had a population of 209,437 in an area of 8.7 km²...
, Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
to the mainland, the other two being the Third Mainland
Third Mainland Bridge
The Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria to the mainland, the other two being the Eko and Carter bridges. It is the longest bridge in Africa....
and Eko
Eko Bridge
Eko Bridge is the shortest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria to the mainland, the other two being the Third Mainland and Carter bridges....
bridges. At the time of its construction, this was the only bridge connection between the mainland and Lagos Island. The bridge starts from Iddo on the mainland and ends at the Idumota area of Lagos Island.
The Carter Bridge was originally constructed by the British colonial government, prior to Nigerian independence in 1960. After independence, the bridge was dismantled, redesigned and rebuilt during the late 1970s. The Alaka-Ijora flyover, on the Iddo end of the span was completed in 1973.
The parking of vehicles on the bridge has resulted in both severe road congestion in addition to contributing to its rapid deterioration. In 2003, the Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers noted that the parking of vehicles along the span may result in collapse if left unaddressed. To address this issue, the Lagos State government has instituted a ₦ 50,000 fine for persons parking their vehicles along the span. Additionally, in April 2006, the Lagos State Transport Commissioner announced that all commercial vehicles would be banned from entering Lagos Island by way of the Carter Bridge to keep buses and other vehicles from parking on the bridge.