By Benson Daniel
What began as a necessary repair exercise on the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has turned into a major traffic ordeal for thousands of commuters, with motorists spending several hours trapped in congestion as construction work, accidents and limited road space combine to overwhelm the busy corridor.
The Federal Government began a two-week rehabilitation of the Kara Bridge on September 8 to replace damaged expansion joints. The work has required sections of the bridge to be closed and traffic to be diverted through the remaining available lanes.
The repair programme quickly created significant congestion, with traffic backing up from the Kara area towards the 7Up Junction, Berger and other parts of Lagos. Motorists complained of unusually long journeys as vehicles were forced to move through reduced road capacity.
The situation deteriorated sharply on Tuesday after a multiple-vehicle crash occurred around Kara Bridge. Reports indicated that seven vehicles were involved, while a separate incident involving a container-laden truck further complicated efforts to keep traffic moving.
By Tuesday evening and into Wednesday, motorists had been trapped for more than 12 hours in some areas, with the congestion extending towards Magboro, Long Bridge and Berger. Some commuters were forced to spend the night on the highway as movement became extremely slow.
The disruption has affected both private motorists and commercial transport operators. Workers travelling between Lagos and communities in Ogun State have faced lengthy delays, while businesses dependent on the corridor have also been affected by longer delivery times, higher fuel consumption and reduced vehicle turnaround.
Traffic management agencies have been deployed around the affected areas to control movement and remove obstructions. However, the scale of the congestion has made it difficult to restore normal traffic flow quickly.
The repair work itself is intended to address deteriorating expansion joints that have contributed to safety concerns on the bridge. Officials have maintained that the intervention is necessary to prevent further deterioration and improve the long-term condition of the structure.
The Federal Government’s current timetable targets completion of the repair exercise around September 22, although construction conditions, rainfall and unforeseen incidents could affect the schedule.
For commuters, however, the immediate concern remains how to navigate the corridor safely while the work continues. Traffic authorities have advised motorists to consider alternative routes where possible, obey traffic officials and avoid driving against traffic, a practice that can create additional bottlenecks and safety risks.
The Kara Bridge experience has once again highlighted the vulnerability of one of Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors. While road repairs are essential for maintaining critical infrastructure, the severe disruption demonstrates the need for carefully managed traffic diversions and contingency plans when work is carried out on major highways.
With the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway serving as a crucial link for commuters, businesses and freight movement between Lagos and the South-West, prolonged congestion carries consequences far beyond travel inconvenience.
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