Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Kara Bridge Repairs Trigger Heavy Gridlock

Motorists and commuters using the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been stranded for several hours following the commencement of two-week repair works on the Kara Bridge.

The Federal Government began replacing damaged expansion joints on the bridge on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after the project was earlier suspended to allow authorities to put adequate traffic management measures in place.

The rehabilitation has triggered severe congestion along the busy corridor, with the traffic reportedly stretching from the Kara Bridge in Ogun State to the 7Up Junction in Lagos and beyond.

By Tuesday afternoon, the gridlock had extended past the Secretariat Bus Stop, while motorists travelling from Ikeja and Agege towards the Otedola Underpass were also caught in the congestion, which stretched beyond Otunba Jobi Fele Way.

Several commuters took to social media to share videos and photographs of the situation, with many lamenting that they spent hours travelling from their workplaces to their homes.

The congestion persisted into Wednesday morning, with some motorists reportedly resorting to one-way traffic routes in an attempt to get passengers to their destinations.

Traffic and security agencies, including the police, military, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), were deployed to manage the situation.

However, repair activities around the entry and exit points of the bridge towards OPIC reportedly further worsened the congestion around Kara.

The spokesperson for TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, appealed to motorists to remain patient and cooperate with traffic officials throughout the rehabilitation period.

“We anticipated that there would be traffic, and that was why we issued a traffic advisory earlier,” Akinbiyi said.

He explained that the repairs were necessary to improve the safety and movement of motorists along the corridor.

“We can only appeal to motorists to bear with us for the time being because the repair works are necessary to ensure smooth movement and the safety of road users along the corridor.

“Anyone who does not have an important business along the axis should stay away, and those who cannot avoid using that route should cooperate with traffic officials,” he added.

The two-week rehabilitation, directed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, involves the replacement of deteriorating expansion joints on the bridge to improve road safety and protect its structural integrity.

The project is scheduled to run until September 22, 2026.

The Lagos State Government has also advised motorists using the corridor to plan their journeys ahead of time, explaining that one half of the affected section would be closed at a time while traffic is diverted to the other half on an alternating basis.

The state government urged motorists to cooperate with traffic management officials to minimise disruption and ensure that the rehabilitation is completed within the scheduled period.