*Several road users lament the consequences of the continued gridlock on the critical Lagos – Ibadan Expressway have resulted in delayed journeys, additional fuel expenses, increased transport fares, as well as physical exhaustion for motorists and commuters
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
Amid the ongoing bridge repairs in the section of a major gateway to parts of South-West Nigeria, traffic congestion has worsened on the critical Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
ConsumerConnect gathered that motorists and commuters have been stranded for several hours around the Kara Bridge and adjoining routes in the axis.
Amid the confusing atmosphere around the location, a multiple-vehicle crash involving a container-laden truck Tuesday, September 15, 2026, was said to have worsened the situation.
Several commuters were trapped on the road overnight, forcing others to trek long distances to their destinations.
As of Wednesday morning, traffic remained heavy around Kara Bridge, Berger, OPIC, Long Bridge and adjoining routes into Lagos, as well as Ojota, Ogba and Maryland, with motorists reporting prolonged delays, Channels TV report said.
Some commuters, who left work evening Tuesday, in Lagos said they were still on the road hours later.
A commuter said he resorted to trekking from New Garage to Berger after the traffic became unbearable, report noted.
Another truck driver related that he was still stuck at Ikeja at about 3 a.m Wednesday, and is still on hold as he is headed to Aba, in Abia State, after travelling through the night.
Yet, another commuter reportedly noted: “I am headed to Mowe, and I have been trekking for over three hours.”
The prolonged congestion has also affected public transportation, with some commuters reporting difficulty getting buses to work Wednesday morning.
On ongoing rehabilitation of Kara Bridge
The situation comes amid the Federal Government’s ongoing rehabilitation of the Kara Bridge, where deteriorating expansion joints are being replaced.
The two-week project, directed by H. E. Senator David Umahi, Honourable Minister for Works, began September 8, and is scheduled to run until September 22.
The Federal Ministry of Works said the expansion joints had exceeded their service life, and required replacement to improve safety and preserve the structural integrity of the bridge.
It was also learnt that the work is being carried out in phases, with one half of the affected section closed while traffic uses the other side under traffic management arrangements.
It is recalled that the same bridge rehabilitation project initially, was scheduled for August this year but was postponed.
The postponement resulted from certain concerns over traffic management and the potential impact on road users.
However, the reduced road capacity has made the corridor particularly vulnerable to major gridlocks whenever there is an accident or vehicle breakdown, according to report.
That vulnerability was exposed again, Tuesday when a 40-foot container truck crashed on Kara Bridge.
LASEMA’s preliminary findings
LASEMA said preliminary findings showed that the truck developed a mechanical fault while in motion, causing the driver to lose control and ram into six other vehicles.
The crash involved the container truck, a Toyota Hilux, an interstate bus, a Hyundai Odyssey, a Sienna, a Toyota Highlander and another Mitsubishi Hilux.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene at about 6:05 a.m., while LASEMA, LASTMA and the Police worked to manage traffic and recover the affected vehicles.
The affected vehicles were subsequently, removed from the carriageway with assistance from private towing operators.
However, the incident triggered severe congestion as the affected section was temporarily obstructed.
A container-laden trailer incident afternoon Tuesday, September 15, 2026, compounded the existing traffic situation caused by the bridge repairs, forcing a closure of the Lagos-bound section and affecting motorists travelling in the opposite direction.
Authorities began removing barriers around the construction area to create an alternative passage and ease movement.
LASTMA and Ogun State traffic officials were deployed to manage the situation.
The resulting gridlock spread beyond Kara and Berger, with traffic also affecting connecting routes into Lagos, with congestion extending beyond Long Bridge towards Magboro and into Lagos.
The prolonged traffic also led to increased transport fares on some routes, with fares rising to as much as ₦4,000 from Berger to Oshodi, ₦3,500 from Berger to Mowe, ₦1,500 from Agege to OPIC, and ₦2,000 from Magboro to Berger.
For several road users, the consequences have gone beyond delayed journeys.
Commuters have complained of lost working hours, additional fuel expenses, increased transport fares and physical exhaustion.
Some have resorted to walking long distances to escape the traffic, while others have abandoned vehicles and sought alternative means of transportation.
The latest situation has also renewed concerns about the vulnerability of the Kara-OPIC corridor, which carries a large volume of commuters, commercial vehicles and goods between Lagos, Ogun State and other parts of the country.
The Federal Government previously, had explained that the Kara repairs were necessary because the damaged expansion joints posed safety risks and could contribute to more serious structural problems if left unattended.
Traffic authorities have also been deployed along the corridor to manage diversions and prevent further obstruction.