Kara bridge repairs: Gridlock shuts down Lagos, jerks up transport fares

•Lagos, Ogun govts set up joint enforcement operations

•Repairs due for completion today— Lagos govt

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & James Ogunnaike

MOTORISTS and commuters were stranded for several hours along Lagos Ibadan Expresswayyesterday, due to the ongoing rehabilitation works on Kara Bridge, Lagos-Ogun border line.

The traffic, which resulted in some commercial drivers hiking the transport fares to over 200 per cent, stretched as far as Alapere road towards the Third Mainland Bridge as well as spilling over to Ikorodu Road and environs.

It also led to scarcity of commercial buses along the route as the road from 7up down to Berger was completely blocked and on standstill.

The repairs, slated for two weeks’ completion, had turned into a nightmare for motorists and commuters as several man-hours were lost on the road.

The repairs, 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, earlier slated to commence in August, was suspended for traffic review following public outcry over short notice and the need for effective traffic management structures on ground.

However, heavy traffic gridlock on Wednesday returned to the Lagos Ibadan Expressway due to the ongoing repairs on the critical Kara Bridge.

The situation that reappeared caused long delays for commuters and motorists along the route.

Motorists, plying the axis from Monday to Wednesday, were subjected to untold hardship after being stranded for several hours, with inadequate traffic officers on the ground to manage the situation.

While motorists spent up to six hours trapped in traffic queues stretching past 20 kilometers, commuters had their share of the situation as they resorted to trekking for hours to arrive at their respective destinations.

The rainstorms and truck crash on Tuesday night also worsened the traffic bottleneck, stranding passengers at bus stops such as Ojota, Alausa, Magodo and Berger area along the expressway.

Similar severe disruptions hit other major transport corridors, like Awolowo Way, Agidingbi, Kudirat Abiola Way, among others, highlighting the urgent need for structural highway interventions and effective traffic management.

A motorist, trapped in the traffic, described the situation as “horrific, heavy, standstill traffic.”

The motorist, who gave his name as Adewale Olumide, said: “Due to ongoing reconstruction on Kara Bridge, everywhere is totally blocked and at a standstill, affecting other environs. I spent over four hours driving from Ikorodu to Berger.”

Lagos govt reacts

Reacting to the latest traffic situation, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, attributed it to indiscipline on the part of motorists driving against the traffic.

He also attributed it to the fatal truck accident which caused spillover into the Lagos axis.

Mr Osiyemi said: “We are aware of the plight of the road users; we are on top of it and have launched machinery to address the situation.

“Both Lagos and Ogun governments, through Commissioners for Transportation, have had meetings with Commissioners of Police, FRSC authorities, General Managers of LASTMA, and the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, with other security agencies had a strategic meeting on Wednesday and set up a joint enforcement team to tackle the chaotic gridlock challenge.

“Traffic personnel, including both high/medium capacity tow-truck have been strategically deployed along Lagos Ibadan Express way to manage traffic effectively and remove and unforeseen encumbrances that may occur along the route.

“We have deployed over 100 traffic and security personnel on the axis to checkmate driving against the traffic, which has worsened the situation.

“I also have it on good authority that the repair works would be completed today and would still be left for about two or three days’ healing period before the bridge will be eventually opened to traffic fully.

“I can assure you that the gridlock situation would have subsided to a large extent.”

FRSC, Police, others intensify traffic management

Also reacting to the chaotic gridlock, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Ogun State Sector Command, and other traffic management agencies said they have intensified efforts to ease the gridlock.

The Chief Route Commander and Public Relations Officer of the FRSC, Ogun State Sector Command, Afolabi Odunsi, said the command, in collaboration with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, the Police and other relevant agencies, had deployed personnel around the Kara Bridge and adjoining corridors to manage traffic, control diversions and respond to road crashes and vehicle breakdowns.

According to him, the agencies were also maintaining safety around the construction zone, monitoring traffic flow and intervening where necessary to prevent secondary crashes.

Odunsi attributed the congestion to the phased restriction of traffic on the bridge to facilitate the replacement of its deteriorating expansion joints.

He advised motorists who had no urgent reason to use the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to consider alternative routes, including the Ikorodu-Ogijo corridor, Shimawa Bridge and the old Abeokuta route.

Odunsi said: “Motorists could also consider routes around the Sango and Abeokuta axes, depending on their destinations.”

He urged motorists whose journeys were not urgent to consider postponing their trips or using alternative routes, particularly during peak periods.

Police deploy personnel

Also, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the command was working with the Federal Ministry of Works and other relevant agencies to ease the traffic situation.

Babaseyi said that based on the mapping and traffic management plans provided, police personnel had been deployed to clear obstructions, assist motorists, regulate traffic flow and direct vehicles around the affected areas.

He said the Police were working to make movement along the corridor more manageable despite the restrictions occasioned by the bridge rehabilitation.

Ogun govt calls for patience

The Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, also appealed to the public to exercise patience and understanding as the Kara Bridge Expansion Joint Replacement Project entered its second and final phase.

Dairo said: “Regrettably, the situation was further compounded when some motorists resorted to driving against traffic route violation) in an attempt to bypass the obstruction. This action significantly aggravated the traffic situation and contributed to the prolonged gridlock in the area.”

Meanwhile, personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, FRSC, TRACE and LASTMA have been deployed to the outbound and inbound sections of the Kara axis to facilitate the safe and orderly movement of traffic and minimise disruptions during the ongoing Kara Bridge Expansion Joint Replacement exercise.

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