Motorists and commuters plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have continued to groan over severe traffic congestion following the commencement of repair works on the Kara Bridge.
The two-week rehabilitation project, directed by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, involves the replacement of deteriorating expansion joints on the bridge to improve road safety, structural integrity and traffic flow along the busy corridor.
The project, initially scheduled to commence in August, was suspended for a traffic review following public concerns over the short notice and the need to put adequate traffic management measures in place.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, had earlier warned motorists of possible gridlock along the corridor when the repairs commenced.
The rehabilitation began on September 8, 2026, with one half of the affected section to be closed at a time while traffic uses the other half interchangeably.
Osiyemi urged motorists to plan their journeys ahead and cooperate with traffic managers to ensure that the project was completed within the scheduled two-week period.
However, motorists and commuters were stranded for several hours on Tuesday, with reports of inadequate presence of traffic officials at some points along the corridor.
By Wednesday, the second day of the repairs, the traffic had stretched beyond the popular Otedola Bridge and 7Up Junction, extending deep into Lagos.
Checks by Vanguard showed that commuters and motorists heading to work, keeping appointments or returning home were forced to spend several hours on the road.
As of 4pm, the traffic had extended beyond Secretariat Bus Stop, while motorists from Ikeja and Ogba attempting to access the Otedola underpass also struggled to navigate the congested route.
The situation was reportedly at a standstill from Nurudeen Olowopopo Road to Otunba Jobi Fele Way.
Some motorists and commuters who spoke with Vanguard complained that traffic management measures had not been sufficient to cope with the volume of vehicles along the corridor.
They also called for alternative routes to be developed to reduce pressure on the Kara Bridge axis.
A resident of Ibaafo, Ogun State, Mr Desoye Oloyede, said he left the Lagos State Secretariat at about 4pm but had to remain in the office because of the gridlock.
“I work with the Lagos State Government. I closed and left the Secretariat at 4pm. I’m still in the office because it’s a standstill situation on the expressway.
“I have to wait till later in the day for it to subside. My vehicle engine cannot withstand the pressure of the gridlock,” he said.
Another resident and Lagos State civil servant, Mrs Modinat Lawal, said she had been unable to make progress on the road since 4pm.
“No movement at all. This is not too good as I have been on the road since 4pm and I am now locked around the office due to traffic.
“I was told the traffic is because of the ongoing construction at Kara Bridge. There was no adequate notice. We ought to have been adequately briefed on this development before we put our cars on the road.
“Time and money are being lost. This is coming at a time a litre of petrol is N1,300 and here we are struggling with our vehicles in traffic, burning petrol. It’s so sad,” she said.
A commuter, Mr Aina Abiola, said he was stranded around Ojodu Berger while trying to get to Mowe, adding that commercial transport fares had increased sharply.
“I didn’t leave home with extra money. I’m now stranded in Ojodu Berger as I try to get to Mowe. Commercial bus drivers have hiked fares by as much as 150 per cent.
“I am stranded and don’t have extra cash on me. I’m just hoping for a miracle to happen now,” he said.
As of 6pm on Wednesday, some officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, TRACE, were seen controlling traffic around the Kara axis.
The officials were directing vehicles heading towards Kara from Isheri and Ojodu, while managing traffic from the expressway in an effort to prevent a total lockdown.
There was also a heavy influx of trucks, buses and other vehicles on both sides of the expressway.
LASTMA deploys more personnel
Reacting to the situation, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said additional personnel had been deployed to ease traffic movement.
Bakare-Oki, through the agency’s Public Affairs Officer, Taofeek Adebayo, said the repairs were necessary to address the deteriorating condition of the bridge and prevent further accidents.
He said LASTMA had conducted awareness and sensitisation programmes ahead of the repairs and deployed personnel with support from the FRSC, Police and TRACE.
According to him, motorists had also been advised to obey traffic diversions and follow the directions of traffic officers.
He said alternative routes had been provided for motorists travelling towards Lagos and those leaving the state.
For travellers heading outside Lagos, he advised them to use Ikorodu Road to Ikorodu Roundabout and connect through Sagamu Road or Itokin Road to Ijebu-Ode.
He also suggested the Ikorodu-Ogijo-Simawa route as another alternative for motorists seeking to reconnect with the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Another option, he said, was the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway to Sango, Ifo and Papa, before turning towards the interchange.
Adebayo added that traffic personnel, including high- and medium-capacity tow trucks, had been strategically deployed along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to manage traffic and promptly remove broken-down vehicles and other obstructions.
“The repair works would only last for two weeks maximum. We hereby seek public patience and cooperation throughout the period of repairs,” he said.
TRACE appeals for patience
The spokesperson for TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, also appealed to motorists to exercise patience and cooperate with traffic officials during the repair period.
Akinbiyi said the agency had anticipated possible gridlock and issued a traffic advisory before the commencement of the repairs.
“We anticipated that there would be traffic, and that was why we issued a traffic advisory earlier.
“We can only appeal to motorists to bear with us for the time being because the repair works are necessary to ensure smooth movement and the safety of road users along the corridor.
“Anyone who does not have an important business along the axis should stay away, and those who cannot avoid using that route should cooperate with traffic officials,” he said.
