Kara Bridge Repairs: Gridlock Shuts Down Lagos, Jerks Up Transport Fares

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.