Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Gridlock Worsens as Kara Bridge Repairs Begin

Traffic congestion intensified on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday as repair work on the Kara Bridge triggered hours of delays for motorists travelling along the busy corridor.

The partial closure of the bridge to facilitate repairs on its damaged expansion joints resulted in a long queue of vehicles stretching from the Iyana-Oworo towards the Kara Bridge area.

As of 8pm, traffic was still moving at a snail’s pace, leaving some motorists stranded for hours as traffic management officials battled to control the situation around the restricted section.

The Federal Ministry of Works commenced the rehabilitation following concerns over the condition of the bridge’s expansion joints.

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Ahead of the exercise, the Lagos State Government had warned motorists of possible delays and advised them to plan their journeys accordingly.

In a travel advisory signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the state government said the repairs would last for two weeks, with only half of the affected section to be closed at a time.

“To minimise its impact on traffic, one half of the affected section will be closed at a time, while motorists share the other open half interchangeably,” the statement said.

The government appealed to motorists to remain patient and cooperate with traffic management officials to facilitate the smooth execution and timely completion of the repairs.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is a major transportation corridor linking Lagos with other parts of the South-West and carries a heavy volume of commercial and passenger traffic daily.

The Kara Bridge, located around the Lagos-Ogun boundary, has repeatedly recorded traffic disruptions during maintenance and construction activities, with motorists having limited alternative routes within the area.