Motorists and commuters plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been plunged into severe hardship following the commencement of a two-week rehabilitation project on the Kara Bridge by the Federal Government.
The rehabilitation ordered by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi involves replacing deteriorating expansion joints to enhance road safety and long-term structural integrity.
Although the project was initially slated for August before being temporarily suspended for a traffic review following public outcry, its eventual kickoff on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, has triggered monumental gridlock.
Vehicular movement along the corridor has been severely crippled, with traffic stretching from the Kara Bridge in Ogun State all the way to 7Up Junction in Lagos, and past the Secretariat Bus Stop. Motorists traveling from Ikeja and Agege toward the Otedola underpass have similarly found themselves trapped in crawling processions extending past Otunba Jobi Fele Way.
Despite a heavy security presence comprising the police, military, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), traffic management has faced massive hurdles.
Frustrated motorists resorted to driving against traffic (one-way) as early as 5:30 AM on Wednesday, while street urchins exploited the chaotic snarl-up to harass commercial drivers.
Commuters have also expressed frustration over the gridlock, which has left many stranded and missing early appointments and work hours.
A motorist who spoke to NewsDirect decried the situation as terrible, placing blame on authorities for inadequate prior mitigation.
Another commuter, questioned what conditions would look like over the remaining duration of the two-week schedule if day one was already unmanageable.
A staff of NewsDirect, Emmanuel who was unable to make it to work decried the length he had to trek from Berger to his residence.
He narrated that due to the length he trekked, he fell ill and lacks strength.
Social media also reflected the widespread panic and exhaustion, with one user tweeting about paying for a motorcycle ride from Berger to Arepo just to escape the bottleneck, while a media worker recounted the grueling physical toll of long walks amid the gridlock.
Defending the timing, TRACE spokesperson Babatunde Akinbiyi urged motorists to exercise patience, stating that the agency had anticipated the disruption and issued a prior advisory.
He recommended that individuals without pressing business along the axis stay away, while those constrained to use the route must cooperate fully with traffic managers.
Under the traffic management plan designed by the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Works, one half of the affected section is closed at a time while motorists share the open half interchangeably.
The rehabilitation will continue till September 22, 2026, with authorities continually appealing for endurance as the upgrades are finalized.