Kara Bridge Repairs Trigger Severe Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Repair works on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have triggered severe traffic congestion, leaving motorists stranded for hours and raising fresh concerns about how major road rehabilitation projects are managed on one of Nigeria’s busiest highways.

The Federal Government commenced a two-week replacement of deteriorating expansion joints on the bridge on Tuesday, September 8, with the exercise scheduled to run until September 22. The repairs were ordered because the expansion joints had deteriorated and were considered a safety risk to motorists.

However, the commencement of the work quickly resulted in major congestion. Traffic reportedly stretched from the Kara Bridge area in Ogun State towards the 7Up Junction in Lagos, with congestion also affecting motorists approaching the Otedola underpass from Ikeja and Agege. Some commuters were reportedly trapped for several hours as vehicles moved slowly through the restricted sections.

The situation was worsened by repair activities around the entry and exit points of the bridge towards OPIC. Traffic management and security personnel, including officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Ogun State traffic authorities, police and military personnel, were deployed to control the flow of vehicles. Despite their presence, the volume of traffic overwhelmed the affected corridor.

The government had announced the repair ahead of its commencement and warned motorists to expect delays. The approved traffic arrangement provides for one half of the affected section to be closed while vehicles use the remaining portion under controlled conditions. Authorities also advised motorists who do not have essential business along the corridor to avoid the route where possible and make alternative travel arrangements.

Federal works officials have defended the intervention as necessary because the damaged expansion joints have been linked to accidents and pose a risk to the structural condition of the bridge. Officials said the repairs are intended to improve road safety and prevent further deterioration rather than simply address the immediate traffic problem.

For motorists travelling towards Mowe, Sagamu and Ibadan, however, the immediate challenge is the lack of convenient alternatives capable of absorbing the volume of traffic normally carried by the expressway. Some road users have questioned whether the traffic-control arrangements could have been better coordinated before work began, particularly given the history of congestion around the Kara axis during previous repairs.

TRACE has warned motorists against driving against traffic or using unauthorised diversion routes, while urging road users to obey temporary traffic signs and instructions from traffic officials. The agency said additional personnel had been deployed to help minimise disruption and maintain safety around the construction zone.

The current hardship is expected to continue to some degree throughout the repair period, but the authorities have promised that the work will be completed within two weeks, subject to construction conditions. For commuters and businesses that depend heavily on the Lagos-Ibadan corridor, the effectiveness of traffic management during the remaining days will be as important as the speed and quality of the bridge repairs themselves.

The project therefore presents a difficult balance: delaying the repairs could leave a deteriorating bridge component posing greater risks, while poorly managed construction can impose significant economic and social costs on thousands of road users. The immediate priority for the authorities is to keep traffic moving as safely as possible while ensuring that the rehabilitation is completed within the announced timeframe.