KARA BRIDGE REPAIRS LEAVE LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY USERS STRANDED FOR HOURS

Motorists and commuters using the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been confronted with severe traffic congestion following ongoing repairs on the Kara Bridge. The latest intervention, which involves the replacement of damaged expansion joints, has caused long delays along the busy corridor and left thousands of travellers stranded for several hours.

The Federal Ministry of Works had announced that the repair would begin on September 8 and last for about two weeks. The exercise followed earlier interventions on the bridge, including a planned repair in July that was postponed over concerns about the likely impact on traffic. The repeated maintenance work has renewed concerns among road users about the condition of the expressway and the disruption caused whenever repairs are carried out.

The traffic situation became particularly severe after work commenced, with congestion stretching from the Kara area towards Lagos. By the evening, the gridlock had extended several kilometres into Lagos, affecting motorists travelling from areas including Ikeja and Agege. Traffic officials from the police, military, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Federal Road Safety Corps and Ogun State traffic authorities were deployed to manage the situation.

The disruption has also created economic and personal difficulties for commuters and transport operators. Commercial drivers have lost several hours and trips, while workers living in Ogun State and commuting to Lagos have reported arriving late at work and returning home deep into the night. Some travellers have reportedly spent close to six hours on the road, while motorists have considered alternative routes through Ikorodu, Sagamu and the Lekki-Epe corridor to avoid the affected section.

The current repair is being carried out in phases, with one half of the affected bridge section closed while traffic is managed on the other side. Federal officials have said the intervention is intended to provide a durable solution, while engineers have stressed the importance of preventive maintenance, proper supervision and traffic planning. The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Michael Komolafe, also pointed to excessive vehicle loading as one of the factors that can place additional pressure on roads and bridges.