Motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were thrown into a six-hour traffic nightmare on Tuesday as ongoing repairs on the Kara Bridge triggered severe congestion along the busy corridor.
The gridlock, which was compounded by rainfall on Wednesday, disrupted traffic movement and temporarily affected some aspects of the repair work, with the congestion stretching more than 20 kilometres into Lagos.
The worsening situation has forced some motorists to consider alternative routes, while others have contemplated staying overnight in Lagos rather than risk spending several hours trapped in traffic on their way home.
A Federal Road Safety Corps official, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press, said the rainfall affected the next phase of the repair.
The official, however, said work that could safely continue during the downpour was ongoing.
He said, “Rainfall disrupted the ongoing repair work and forced the temporary suspension of the next phase of construction.
“It also affected the planned concrete and stonework, while workers continued with activities that could be carried out safely during the period. The expansion joint is also being drilled in preparation for its installation.”
For commuters who use the expressway daily, the situation has become increasingly frustrating, with some now considering longer alternative routes to escape the congestion.
One of them, Timilehin Adio, told PUNCH Metro that he was considering travelling through Ikorodu and Sagamu or using the Lekki-Epe route.
He said, “With the repairs practically putting the stretch of the expressway on lockdown, I now consider going through Sagamu and Ikorodu to Lagos. I can also take the Lekki-Epe route. The traffic is becoming unbearable.”
Another motorist, who identified himself simply as Saheed, said Tuesday’s gridlock left him stranded for several hours before he eventually got home around 2am.
Saheed, who lives in the Mowe area of Ogun State and works on the Island, said he was also considering an alternative route.
He said, “The gridlock was worse yesterday. I got home around 2 am. The traffic was at a standstill for a while. This was because of the high volume of vehicles coming in from Lagos. I may have to consider going through the Lekki-Epe route or Ikorodu axis when returning home.”
It was also gathered that some motorists whose offices are located on the Island had considered staying back at their workplaces or seeking temporary shelter in Lagos pending the completion of the repair.
The traffic situation was further worsened by the reduction in the number of available lanes around the bridge.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the first phase of concrete work on the bridge had been completed.
However, only two lanes were available to motorists approaching the bridge towards the OPIC Turning, while the four lanes inbound to Ogun State were reduced to two lanes a few metres before the bridge.
The reduction in available lanes slowed the movement of vehicles and contributed to the worsening congestion along the corridor.
Meanwhile, traffic officials and security personnel remained deployed at strategic points along the corridor to regulate vehicle movement and prevent the congestion from spreading further.
The rainfall, however, was also said to have affected the operations of some personnel managing the traffic.
PUNCH Metro reported on Tuesday that motorists were stranded for several hours as the repair works triggered a massive gridlock stretching from the Kara Bridge in Ogun State to the 7Up Junction in Lagos.
The Federal Government had earlier announced that the replacement of the expansion joints on the Kara-Berger Bridge section would last two weeks, from September 8 to September 22, 2026.
The intervention, being carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and other relevant stakeholders, is aimed at addressing the deteriorating expansion joints, improving road safety, preserving the structural integrity of the bridge and ensuring smoother movement along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor.
When contacted on Wednesday, the Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Michael Komolafe, clarified that the repair works progressed despite the downpour.
He said, “The concrete and stone works were completed before the rain started. I personally partook in covering it so that the rain would not affect the surface. That first phase we worked on was already concluded today; it is according to the plan for today. So we were already breaking the second one when it started raining.”
Komolafe added that plans were underway to ensure that the repair works finished before the scheduled completion.
