Kara Bridge Repairs Trigger Heavy Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Two-week repair works on the Kara Bridge have triggered severe traffic congestion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, leaving motorists and commuters stranded for several hours.

The Federal Government commenced the replacement of 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 repairs have resulted in heavy gridlock along the corridor, with traffic reportedly stretching from the Kara Bridge in Ogun State to the 7Up Junction in Lagos State and beyond.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the congestion had extended beyond the Secretariat Bus Stop, while motorists travelling from Ikeja and Agege towards the Otedola underpass were also caught in traffic stretching beyond Otunba Jobi Fele Way.

Several commuters took to social media to share videos and images of the situation, with some saying journeys that would ordinarily take a shorter time lasted several hours.

The congestion persisted into Wednesday morning, with some motorists resorting to one-way traffic routes 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 added to the congestion around the Kara axis.

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

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

“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.”

He advised motorists without urgent business along the route to avoid the corridor while the work continues.

“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 rehabilitation, directed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, involves replacing deteriorating expansion joints to improve road safety and strengthen the structural integrity of the Kara Bridge.

The project is expected to continue for two weeks and end on September 22, 2026.

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

Motorists have been urged to exercise caution, follow traffic diversions and comply with instructions from traffic management officials throughout the repair period.