Traffic congestion worsened along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, on Tuesday, as motorists were held up for several hours after repair work began on the Kara Bridge.
Repair work on damaged expansion joints on the bridge led to a partial closure of the carriageway, causing a long traffic stretch from the 7Up/Toll Gate junction to the Kara Bridge area.
Reports said that vehicles were moving at a snail’s pace, with some motorists stranded for hours as traffic managers struggled to keep traffic moving through the restricted section.
The Federal Ministry of Works began rehabilitating the affected portion of the bridge after concerns about the condition of its expansion joints.
The Lagos State government, on Monday, urged motorists using the corridor to plan their journeys ahead of the two-week repair exercise, warning of possible delays.
In a travel advisory signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the government said it would close half of the affected section at a time, while motorists would share the available lane interchangeably.
“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,” the statement said.
The government appealed to motorists to be patient and cooperate with traffic management officials to ensure the rehabilitation is completed within the scheduled period.
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which connects Lagos with the South-West and serves as a major route for commercial and passenger movement, continues to face heavy traffic challenges due to its strategic importance and high volume of daily users.
The Kara Bridge section, located around the Lagos-Ogun boundary, has previously experienced traffic disruptions during maintenance and construction activities because motorists have few alternative routes.