There was slight relief for motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday as the first phase of concrete repairs on the Kara Bridge was completed, although traffic remained heavy around the busy corridor.
The development followed a chaotic Tuesday when motorists and commuters faced severe congestion after the repair work forced a partial closure of the bridge. Some road users reportedly spent close to four hours navigating the affected section.
By Wednesday afternoon, traffic movement had improved, but vehicles approaching Kara Bridge were still moving slowly. One motorist said the journey from the 7Up area towards Otedola had taken almost three hours on Tuesday but was less difficult the following day.
The Federal Ministry of Works began the intervention to replace damaged expansion joints on the bridge. The repairs have reduced the number of lanes available to motorists, putting additional pressure on the expressway and surrounding routes.
The Acting Controller of Works in Ogun State, Richard Adeleye, defended the pace of the project, saying workers had already completed one side of the bridge despite the difficult conditions.
He explained that the damaged expansion joints needed urgent attention because they had contributed to accidents on the bridge. The contractor is expected to move to the other section after completing the ongoing work.
Rainfall, however, disrupted some construction activities on Wednesday. While workers continued drilling the expansion joint in preparation for installation, other concrete and stone works had to be temporarily suspended.
Traffic management authorities also reported that only two lanes were available for motorists heading towards the OPIC Turning, forcing traffic from the Secretariat direction to merge into the reduced lanes shortly before Kara Bridge.
The lane restriction also affected traffic around New Garage, with traffic lights being used to control vehicles coming from different directions, including Isheri-Olowora, River Valley, Otedola Bridge and the Lagos-bound route.
LASTMA officials, police officers and other traffic management personnel were deployed at strategic locations to control the flow of vehicles. Authorities also advised motorists to consider alternative routes, including Ogijo and Ikorodu, where traffic was reportedly lighter.
The Lagos State Government had earlier warned that the repair exercise could cause delays and advised motorists to plan their journeys. The intervention is expected to last about two weeks, with the affected section being repaired in phases.
Adeleye said the concrete used for the repairs should achieve the required strength within five to seven days, after which the completed section can be reopened to traffic. He expressed confidence that the intervention would be completed within the planned timeframe, barring unforeseen circumstances.
