Kara Bridge Repairs Trigger Severe Gridlock on Lagos Ibadan Expressway

By Benson Daniel

Motorists and commuters using the Lagos Ibadan Expressway have been stranded for hours as repair works on the Kara Bridge triggered severe gridlock across one of the busiest transport corridors in the South West.

The congestion began shortly after the Federal Government commenced the replacement of damaged expansion joints on the bridge on Tuesday, with traffic building up rapidly around the Kara axis and stretching deep into Lagos.

The gridlock extended from Kara Bridge in Ogun State towards the 7Up Junction and beyond, while motorists approaching the Otedola underpass from Ikeja and Agege were also caught in the congestion.

By Wednesday morning, the situation remained difficult, with motorists reporting prolonged delays and some resorting to one way driving in desperate attempts to reach their destinations.

The heavy traffic has affected workers, commercial drivers, passengers and other road users who depend on the expressway for daily movement between Lagos and communities in Ogun State.

Traffic management and security personnel have been deployed across the affected corridor, including police and military officers, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Federal Road Safety Corps and Ogun State traffic authorities.

The personnel have been alternating the movement of vehicles from different directions in an effort to prevent the road from becoming completely locked down.

However, the repair activities around the entry and exit points of the bridge have continued to put additional pressure on traffic movement.

The Federal Government had announced that the rehabilitation would last for two weeks, beginning September 8 and ending September 22, 2026.

The work involves replacing deteriorating expansion joints on the Kara Bridge, with the intervention aimed at improving road safety, protecting the structural integrity of the bridge and ensuring smoother traffic movement once the project is completed.

Authorities had anticipated possible disruption and issued advisories ahead of the commencement of the repairs. Motorists were advised to plan their journeys and avoid the corridor where their trips were not essential.

The traffic management arrangement involves closing one half of the affected section at a time while allowing vehicles to use the remaining portion under controlled conditions.

The Ogun State traffic authorities have appealed to motorists to remain patient and cooperate with officials deployed to manage the situation throughout the repair period.

The authorities stressed that the repairs were necessary because of the deteriorating condition of the expansion joints and warned that leaving the defects unattended could pose safety risks to motorists and lead to more serious damage to the bridge.

The latest gridlock has nevertheless renewed concerns over the difficulty of carrying out major repairs on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway without causing significant hardship for commuters.

The corridor carries a heavy volume of passenger and commercial traffic every day, leaving motorists with limited alternatives when major sections become restricted.

Authorities are therefore expected to sustain traffic control measures throughout the rehabilitation period and ensure that the work is completed within the scheduled two weeks.

For motorists who regularly use the route, the immediate priority remains finding ways to minimise delays while the repairs continue.