Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu will officially unveil the announce the preferred bidder for the proposed construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge today (Friday) Theliberationnews reports.
It was gathered that the state government has settled for the Chinese firm Messers CCECC and CRCCIG Consortium as the preferred bidder but the state governor will make the official unveiling today.
The announcement was made through the Office of Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
Special Adviser to the governor on Public Private Partnerships, Ope George, at a news conference in Ikeja, said the Fourth Mainland Bridge project, which is a PPP transport infrastructure development, will comprise the construction and operation of a greenfield tolled road and bridge with a design speed of 120km/h, including the development of adjacent real estates.
“The government began a competitive bidding process for the selection of a concessionaire, by the issuance of the Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) on November 27, 2019.
“Fifty two responses were received with 32 being responsive. Subsequently, a Request for Quotation (RFQ) was issued on February 10, 2020, to the 32 applicants and responses were received on April 15, 2020, with 15 responses. Upon evaluation, six bidders met the criteria to progress to the Request for Proposal (RfP) stage.”
George added that the bids have now been evaluated and Messrs. CCECC-CRCCIG Consortium emerged as the preferred bidder, while Messrs. MOTA-ENGIL (NIGERIA &AFRICA), CCCC & CRBC CONSORTIUM, as the reserved bidder for the project.
He explained that bridge will reduce congestion on the existing Carter, Eko and Third Mainland Bridges, while opening new areas of the city for future developments.
Recall that the state governor had at different occasions assured residents to announce the preferred bidder before January 1, 2023.
According to a source, “All arrangements have been concluded by the Governor to address the media on Friday, at Alausa, Ikeja.
Eight roads– Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Lagos/Abuja highway, Benin/Sagamu, and Igbogbo/Lagos would be aligned with the Fourth Bridge.
The 38-kilometer project, estimated to cost about $2.5 billion, would be delivered through the Public-Private Partnership initiative and tolled for two years.
Earlier, Special Adviser to Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, said the state government had carried along the over 48 estates, traditional rulers and others that would be affected by the bridge.
Adeyoye said the negative impact of the bridge was minimal compared to the advantages, urging those anxious for the project to take off to be patient.
On the bridge’s economic impact, she said it would boost businesses as the poor road network had made many businesses close up or migrate.
According to her, the roads and the bridge will create over 10,000 jobs, when completed. The bridge, he added, would cut travel time from three hours to about 30 minutes.
She assured stakeholders that anybody affected by the bridge would be adequately compensated by the government.
According to Adeyoye; “New communities will spring up on the axis with business opportunities.
The developments on the axis include Dangote Refinery, Lekki Free Trade Zone, and regional roads. It is a process. We will reach a viable and economic process agreeable to all.”
The Special Adviser said the idea of constructing the fourth mainland bridge was aimed at reducing severe congestion on the existing Third Mainland Bridge while opening new areas for future development.
