Motorists travelling along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were stranded for several hours on Tuesday as repair work on the Kara Bridge caused heavy traffic congestion across parts of the busy highway.
The gridlock, which intensified during the afternoon, reportedly stretched from the Kara Bridge area in Ogun State towards the 7Up Junction in Lagos State.
By about 3:30pm, traffic had extended beyond the Secretariat Bus Stop, while motorists approaching the Otedola underpass from Ikeja and Agege were also caught in the congestion. The traffic reportedly reached the Otunba Jobi Fele Way axis.
Traffic management and security personnel were deployed to manage the situation. Officers from the police and military, alongside officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Federal Road Safety Corps and Ogun State traffic agency, were seen controlling the movement of vehicles from both directions.
The situation was further worsened by repair activities at the entry and exit points of the bridge towards OPIC.
Some motorists expressed frustration over the prolonged delay, particularly those travelling towards Mowe and other communities along the expressway.
One motorist, Tunji Kazeem, described the traffic as unbearable, noting that there were limited alternative routes available to motorists heading towards Mowe.
Another motorist, Jelili, appealed to the authorities to find a permanent solution to the recurring congestion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, urged motorists to remain patient and cooperate with traffic officials.
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Akinbiyi said authorities had anticipated the possibility of congestion and had issued a traffic advisory before the repairs commenced.
He explained that the intervention was necessary to repair deteriorating expansion joints, improve road safety and protect the structural integrity of the bridge.
The Federal Government had announced that the replacement of the expansion joints on the Kara-Berger Bridge section would last for two weeks, from September 8 to September 22, 2026.
Motorists who do not have urgent business along the affected corridor were advised to avoid the route during the repair period.
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