Kara Bridge repairs trigger gridlock as Lagos-Ibadan Expressway traffic worsens

Motorists and commuters along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor have been left stranded for hours following the commencement of a two-week repair of the Kara Bridge, with heavy rainfall on Wednesday further worsening traffic congestion.

The Federal Government began repairs on the damaged expansion joints of the bridge on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, triggering severe gridlock stretching from Kara Bridge in Ogun State to the 7Up Junction and other parts of Lagos.

The rehabilitation, earlier scheduled to begin in August, was postponed following public concerns over inadequate notice and the need for a comprehensive traffic management plan.

However, traffic authorities have struggled to contain the congestion since work commenced. By Tuesday afternoon, the gridlock had stretched beyond Secretariat Bus Stop, while motorists travelling from Ikeja and Agege towards the Otedola Underpass were also caught in the congestion extending towards Otunba Jobi Fele Way.

Security and traffic management personnel, including the police, military, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), were deployed along the corridor.

Despite their presence, the repair works caused significant delays around the entry and exit points of the bridge, including the OPIC and Kara areas.

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The situation became worse on Wednesday morning following a heavy downpour, with motorists as early as 5:30 a.m. resorting to one-way driving in desperate attempts to move passengers and reach their destinations.

Street urchins also reportedly took advantage of the traffic situation, moving between vehicles and commercial buses in search of quick earnings.

Commuters expressed frustration over the disruption, with many saying they were unable to get to work and appointments on time.

A motorist, Tijani Akinyele, described the situation as “terrible”, saying motorists heading towards Mowe had been forced to use one-way traffic due to the absence of viable alternatives.

Another motorist, Thompson, appealed to the authorities to urgently address the congestion.

“We can’t continue like this. If the situation is like this today, what will it look like for the next two weeks?” he lamented.

TRACE spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, urged motorists to remain patient and cooperate with traffic officials, saying the agency had anticipated the possibility of severe congestion and issued a traffic advisory ahead of the repairs.

He advised motorists without essential business along the corridor to avoid the route during the rehabilitation period.

The repair, directed by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, involves replacing deteriorated expansion joints to improve the bridge’s safety, structural integrity and long-term traffic flow.

The project is expected to run until September 22.

The Lagos State Government has advised motorists to plan their journeys ahead, explaining that one half of the affected section would be closed at a time while traffic is diverted through the remaining open section.

Authorities have appealed for patience and cooperation, stressing that the rehabilitation is necessary to safeguard motorists and improve movement along one of Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors.