Epe
For decades, this bridge has greatly served the people of Epe and outsiders but its glory days are over due to lingering neglect by relevant authorities.
The bridge has been allowed to decline over the years. This situation has sparked incessant accidents on the bridge. On September 26, 2020, a Volvo truck and a Dangote truck collided on the bridge, causing the former to plunge into the river. The incident left at least three people dead.
The Volvo truck in the Epe river after colliding with a Dangote truck on the Epe-Berger bridge on September 26, 2020
Also, on January 18, 2022, a trailer crashed into two cars on the bridge, leaving occupants injured.
The two cars involved in the January 18, 2022, crash with a trailer on Epe-Berger bridge
Most recently, a few weeks ago, two haulage trucks collided on the Epe-Berger bridge. This collision was only the latest in a series of mishaps on a bridge that is crying out for government’s prompt intervention. The incessant accidents on the bridge paint a worrying pattern of a bridge that continues to threaten the lives and property of Epe residents unchecked.
Unsurprisingly, the utter neglect of the Epe-Berger link bridge has only made the situation worse. On top of that, the bridge continues to narrow gradually, making it less palatable for safe driving. Vehicles traveling in opposite directions are often forced to drive in close proximity as a result of the narrow bridge. This situation raises the stakes for disaster. The stakes for disaster are even higher for large trucks who ply the route.
Part of Epe-Berger bridge
Moreover, the current raining season has exposed motorists and commuters to more dangers than before. The incessant heavy rainfall brings with it a deluge of sand that continues to clog the free flow of rainwater. This situation has left a pool of stagnant water on the bridge, obstructing vision and the ability of drivers to maneuver their way around the bridge. This situation undoubtedly threatens the lives of commuters and as the recent truck collision signals, jarring disasters are on the way if there is no quick intervention to salvage the mess.
Lives have already been lost as a result of the defective Epe-Berger bridge but there is a chance to save lives in the future. That starts with relevant authorities, including representatives of Epe constituency, the state government, and the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, taking this situation seriously by taking urgent steps to make the bridge safer for users.
As the Fish Basket of Lagos State, Epe deserves better than what is currently obtainable on the defective bridge. Inaction is no longer an option. Epe residents and outsiders who depend on this bridge are counting on the government to do what is right and fix this vital infrastructure now.
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