Kara Bridge Repairs: First Phase Completed As Traffic Eases On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway experienced slight relief on Wednesday as the first phase of repair works on the Kara Bridge was completed, although traffic congestion persisted along the busy corridor.

The repairs, being carried out by a contractor engaged by the Federal Ministry of Works, involve the replacement of damaged expansion joints on the bridge. The intervention has led to a reduction in the number of lanes available to motorists, resulting in prolonged traffic delays.

The development followed severe gridlock recorded on Tuesday, when some motorists reportedly spent nearly four hours navigating sections of the expressway around the Kara and Otedola areas.

A motorist who spoke on the situation said traffic had improved compared with the previous day.

He said he joined the queue shortly after Emergency inward Lagos and was approaching Otedola at about 2:30 p.m., adding that the journey was less difficult than it had been on Tuesday.

The Acting Controller of Works in Ogun State, Richard Adeleye, said the pace of the repair work was satisfactory, noting that one side of the bridge had already been completed.

“Who is saying the pace of work is slow? We are almost done with one side. We started yesterday,” Adeleye said.
He explained that the damaged expansion joints had contributed to accidents on the bridge, making the repairs necessary despite the temporary hardship being experienced by motorists.

According to him, the contractor would proceed to the second section before moving to the other side of the bridge, subject to prevailing conditions.

However, rainfall disrupted the next phase of the concrete and stone works on Wednesday. While some activities were suspended, workers continued drilling the expansion joint in preparation for its installation.

Traffic authorities also reported that only two lanes were available for vehicles heading towards the OPIC Turning, forcing traffic from the Secretariat direction towards Kara Bridge to merge into two lanes shortly before the bridge.

The lane reduction further affected traffic around New Garage, where traffic lights were deployed to regulate vehicles approaching from Isheri-Olowora and River Valley, as well as those coming from Otedola Bridge and heading out of Lagos.

The resulting backlog extended towards the Mobil-Otedola axis.
Traffic management personnel, including officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the police and other relevant agencies, were deployed at strategic locations to control the flow of vehicles.

Adeleye said arrangements had also been made to manage traffic during the night, while urging motorists to remain patient and consider alternative routes.
He specifically recommended the Ogijo-Ikorodu corridor, saying traffic movement along the route was relatively free.

The Lagos State Government had earlier warned motorists to expect delays throughout the two-week repair exercise. In a travel advisory signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the government said one-half of the affected section would be closed at a time, with available lanes used interchangeably to facilitate movement.

The traffic situation has also been compounded by the volume of vehicles feeding into the Kara corridor from several routes, including 7Up, the Secretariat, CMD Road, Ojodu Road and other adjoining roads.

Some motorists have consequently resorted to alternative routes through Ikorodu, Sagamu, GRA, Oba Akran, WEMCO Road, Ogunnusi Road and Ojodu-Berger.

Beyond the current intervention, Adeleye said authorities were also concerned about similar deterioration of expansion joints on other bridges.
He said the ongoing repairs were being undertaken with durability in mind to minimise the likelihood of a recurrence.

The official added that the concrete being used was expected to attain the required strength within five to seven days, after which the repaired section could be reopened to traffic.

He expressed confidence that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the entire repair exercise would be completed within the scheduled two-week period.