Kara bridge repairs, Otedola crash worsen Lagos-Ibadan gridlock

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Motorists and commuters were stranded for several hours on Wednesday as ongoing repairs on Kara Bridge, at the Lagos-Ogun boundary, combined with a truck accident around the Otedola area to worsen traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and adjoining roads.

The gridlock stretched from the expressway to Alapere Road and towards the Third Mainland Bridge, with spillovers into Ikorodu Road and other parts of Lagos.

The situation also triggered a shortage of commercial buses, while some transport operators reportedly increased fares by more than 200 per cent.

The road section from 7Up to Berger was particularly affected, with traffic virtually at a standstill.

Some motorists reportedly spent up to six hours in traffic, with queues extending for more than 20 kilometres, while some commuters resorted to trekking to their destinations.

The situation was further worsened by Tuesday’s rainstorm and a truck crash around Otedola after the vehicle reportedly developed brake failure.

The rehabilitation work on Kara Bridge, directed by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, involves the replacement of deteriorating expansion joints to improve road safety, structural integrity and long-term traffic flow on the busy corridor.

The project, initially scheduled to commence in August, was suspended for a traffic management review following public concerns over the short notice and the need to put effective traffic control measures in place.

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, had earlier warned motorists of possible gridlock when the repairs commenced.

He said one half of the affected section would be closed at a time while motorists used the other half to facilitate movement during the rehabilitation.

“The Lagos State Government advises motorists traversing the corridor to plan their journeys ahead.

“To minimise its impact on traffic, one half of the affected section will be closed at a time, while motorists share the other open half interchangeably,” Osiyemi had said.

He appealed to motorists to exercise patience and cooperate with traffic managers to ensure the rehabilitation was completed within the scheduled two weeks.

According to him, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) had also conducted awareness and sensitisation programmes ahead of the commencement of the repairs.

Lagos, Ogun launch joint enforcement

Reacting to the latest gridlock, Osiyemi attributed part of the worsening situation to motorists driving against traffic, popularly known as one-way, as well as the recent truck accident that caused spillover into the Lagos axis.

He said the Lagos and Ogun state governments had launched a joint enforcement operation to address the situation.

According to him, commissioners of transportation from both states, commissioners of police, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), LASTMA, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) and other security agencies held a strategic meeting on Wednesday.

“We are aware of the plight of the general public. We are on top of it and have launched machinery to address the situation.

“Traffic personnel, including high- and medium-capacity tow trucks, have been strategically deployed along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to manage traffic effectively and remove unforeseen encumbrances that may occur along the route,” he said.

Osiyemi said more than 100 traffic and security personnel had been deployed along the corridor to check motorists driving against traffic, which he said had worsened the situation.

He added that the rehabilitation work was expected to be completed on Wednesday, after which the bridge would undergo a two- or three-day curing period before being fully reopened to traffic.

“I use this medium, therefore, to appeal to the motoring public on the need to be patient and comply with traffic regulations put in place to enhance road movement for all road users.

“I can assure you that before the end of today, the traffic gridlock situation would have subsided to a large extent,” he said.

LASTMA gives alternative routes

Meanwhile, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, advised motorists travelling out of Lagos to use alternative routes to avoid the gridlock.

He said motorists could use Ikorodu Road to Ikorodu Roundabout and proceed through Sagamu Road or Itokin Road to Ijebu-Ode.

Another option, he said, was to travel from Ikorodu to Ogijo, connect through Simawa towards Lotto and link back to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Bakare-Oki also advised motorists to use the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway to Sango, proceed to Ifo and Papa, then turn right towards the interchange.

He urged motorists to plan their journeys and comply with the directives of accredited traffic management personnel.

“Motorists can also call 3367 to report traffic-related issues for prompt action,” he said.

Otedola truck crash worsens situation

The traffic situation was further compounded by a fallen truck around Otedola after it reportedly developed brake failure.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, who led senior officials on an on-the-spot assessment of the scene, said the truck was subsequently evacuated by LASTMA.

Musa also blamed part of the traffic situation on motorists driving against traffic.

He said additional traffic officers had been deployed to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to improve movement.

The Permanent Secretary said the ministry would continue to work with the Lagos and Ogun state police commands, TRACE, LASTMA and other relevant stakeholders to ease the situation.

He said the ongoing rehabilitation of Kara Bridge remained essential to preserving critical transport infrastructure and ensuring the long-term safety and resilience of the corridor.

Also speaking, Bakare-Oki said LASTMA officials were working round the clock to improve traffic flow.

He urged motorists to remain patient and desist from driving against traffic whenever there was an obstruction on the road.

A motorist, Adewale Olumide, who was trapped in the gridlock, described the situation as “horrific, heavy, standstill traffic.”

“Due to ongoing reconstruction on Kara Bridge, everywhere is totally blocked and at standstill, affecting other environs. I spent over four hours driving from Ikorodu to Berger,” he said.

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