Motorists and commuters on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were stranded for several hours on Wednesday as ongoing repairs on Kara Bridge, combined with a truck crash around Otedola, worsened congestion across Lagos and Ogun.
The gridlock stretched from Kara and Berger to Alapere Road, the Third Mainland Bridge, and parts of Ikorodu Road, while traffic was virtually at a standstill between 7Up and Berger.
Some motorists reportedly spent up to six hours in traffic, with queues stretching more than 20 kilometers. Several commuters were forced to trek long distances after commercial buses became scarce.
The disruption also triggered sharp increases in transport fares, with some operators reportedly raising fares by more than 200 per cent. Reports said some commuters paid as much as N5,000 for journeys that normally cost considerably less.
The situation was worsened by a multiple-vehicle crash involving a container-laden truck on Tuesday. The incident compounded the restrictions created by the rehabilitation of Kara Bridge and caused traffic to spill into adjoining Lagos routes.
The Federal Government began replacing deteriorating expansion joints on the bridge on September 8. The project is scheduled to run until September 22 and is aimed at improving the bridge’s structural integrity and road safety.
Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said more than 100 traffic and security personnel, alongside tow trucks, had been deployed to manage the situation and prevent motorists from driving against traffic.
He said the repair work was expected to be completed on Wednesday, after which the bridge would undergo a two- to three-day curing period before full reopening.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, LASTMA, TRACE, and the police have also deployed personnel around Kara and adjoining corridors to manage diversions, clear obstructions, and respond to breakdowns and crashes.
FRSC Ogun spokesperson Afolabi Odunsi advised motorists without urgent journeys to avoid the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and use alternative routes, including the Ikorodu-Ogijo, Shimawa, and old Abeokuta corridors.
Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo, appealed for patience, saying traffic violations, particularly driving against traffic, had further aggravated the congestion.
Authorities have urged motorists to plan their journeys, obey traffic officials, and consider alternative routes while the rehabilitation continues.
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