The Lagos state government has shortlisted three bidders for the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge (FMB).
Ope George, special adviser to the governor on public-private partnerships (PPP), disclosed this on Saturday at a news conference in Lagos.
George said the shortlisted bidders are Mota-Engil (Nigeria and Africa) CCCC and CRBC Consort; CGGC-CGC joint venture; and CCECC and CRCCIG Consortium.
He said the FMB project had gone through the competitive bidding process, the request for proposal stage one (RFP 1), and the RFP stage two.
George said the RFP stage two was then issued to the three shortlisted bidders, adding that the project is expected to cost $2.5 billion.
Giving a brief history of the project, he said the FMB was a proposed PPP transport infrastructure development which includes the construction and operation of a greenfield tolled road and bridge with a design speed of 120kmh, including the development of adjacent real estates.
According to George, the bridge is expected to become the second longest in Africa featuring three toll plazas, nine interchanges, a 4.5km lagoon bridge and an eco-friendly environment.
He said the project is also expected to span about 37 kilometers, starting from Abraham Adesanya in Ajah, on the Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe corridor and transverse the north-west towards the lagoon shoreline of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway via Owutu/Isawo in Ikorodu.
George said the project is aimed at relieving severe congestion on the existing Third Mainland Bridge; while opening new areas for future development.
The special adviser further disclosed that the evaluation committee, which consists of representatives from the state government, ministry of works, office of public-private partnerships (OPPP), and the project advisers, commenced the evaluation of the submitted RFP stage two documents on November 17, 2022.
He added that the preferred bidder would be announced before the end of the year.