Kara Bridge repairs cripple Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
Repair works on the Kara Bridge have triggered hours-long gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, disrupting movement between Lagos and Ogun states.
The congestion, which intensified on Wednesday, stretched from the Kara axis in Ogun State to the Toll Gate area of Lagos, with motorists reporting prolonged delays along the strategic corridor.
*Traffic on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following Kara Bridge repairs
Nkereuwem Effiong
Repair works on the Kara Bridge have triggered hours-long gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, disrupting movement between Lagos and Ogun states.
The congestion, which intensified on Wednesday, stretched from the Kara axis in Ogun State to the Toll Gate area of Lagos, with motorists reporting prolonged delays along the strategic corridor.
The two-week rehabilitation began on September 8, following an order by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for the replacement of deteriorating expansion joints on the bridge.
The work requires one half of the affected section to be closed at a time, while traffic is diverted to the other half.
By Wednesday afternoon, the resulting traffic had spread beyond Otedola Bridge and 7Up Junction, with motorists approaching the Otedola underpass from Ikeja and Ogba also caught in the congestion.
Some commuters said journeys that would normally take a fraction of the time had stretched into several hours, while commercial transport operators were accused of raising fares as demand increased.
A Lagos State civil servant, Modinat Lawal, said she was forced to remain around her office after leaving work because of the gridlock.
Another commuter, Aina Abiola, said he became stranded around Ojodu Berger while travelling to Mowe, adding that transport fares had risen sharply.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, had warned motorists ahead of the repairs and urged them to plan their journeys and comply with traffic diversions.
Traffic agencies step in
As the congestion worsened, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, TRACE, deployed personnel to the Kara axis.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said more officers had been deployed to improve traffic flow and prevent a total breakdown of movement.
Bakare-Oki, through the agency’s Public Affairs Officer, Taofeek Adebayo, said the bridge repairs were necessary to address its deteriorating condition and reduce the risk of accidents.
He said LASTMA had conducted sensitisation campaigns before the project and was working with the FRSC, police and TRACE to manage the diversion.
Adebayo said tow trucks had also been stationed along the expressway to quickly remove broken-down vehicles and other obstructions.
He advised motorists to consider alternative routes, including the Ikorodu-Ogijo-Simawa corridor and the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
For travellers heading towards Ijebu-Ode and other destinations outside Lagos, he recommended routes through Ikorodu Roundabout, Sagamu Road or Itokin Road.
TRACE spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, also appealed to motorists to exercise patience and cooperate with traffic officials.
He said the agency had anticipated congestion and issued a traffic advisory before the repairs commenced.
Akinbiyi advised motorists without urgent business along the corridor to avoid the route during the repair period.
The rehabilitation is expected to be completed within two weeks.
