Traffic congestion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has worsened around the Kara Bridge and adjoining routes following ongoing rehabilitation works and a series of truck-related incidents on the busy corridor.
The gridlock, which intensified on Tuesday, left several sections of the expressway and connecting roads heavily congested into Wednesday morning.
Traffic was particularly heavy around Kara Bridge, Berger, OPIC, Long Bridge and routes leading into Lagos, while Ojota, Ogba and Maryland also experienced increased congestion.
The situation was compounded by a multiple-vehicle crash involving a container-laden truck at Kara Bridge on Tuesday.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said preliminary findings showed that the truck developed a mechanical fault while in motion, causing the driver to lose control and crash into six other vehicles.
The vehicles involved were the container truck, a Toyota Hilux, an interstate bus, a Hyundai Odyssey, a Sienna, a Toyota Highlander and another Mitsubishi Hilux.
Emergency responders were deployed to the scene at about 6:05am, with LASEMA, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the police working to manage traffic and clear the affected vehicles.
The vehicles were later removed from the carriageway with the assistance of private towing operators.
Another container-laden trailer incident on Tuesday afternoon further compounded the congestion caused by the ongoing bridge works. The Lagos-bound section was temporarily closed, affecting traffic in the opposite direction.
Authorities subsequently began removing barriers around the construction area to create an alternative passage and ease movement, while LASTMA and traffic officials from Ogun State were deployed to manage the situation.
The congestion spread beyond Kara and Berger to connecting routes into Lagos, with traffic reported towards Magboro and other parts of the Lagos-Ogun corridor.
The disruption also affected public transportation, with some routes recording higher fares as motorists and commuters sought alternative means of getting to their destinations.
Fares on some routes reportedly rose to N4,000 from Berger to Oshodi, N3,500 from Berger to Mowe, N1,500 from Agege to OPIC and N2,000 from Magboro to Berger.
The latest gridlock occurred amid the Federal Government’s rehabilitation of the Kara Bridge, where damaged expansion joints are being replaced.
The two-week project, directed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, commenced on September 8 and is expected to end on 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.
The rehabilitation is being carried out in phases, with one half of the affected section closed while traffic is managed on the remaining carriageway.
The project, initially scheduled for August, was postponed following concerns over traffic management and its possible impact on road users.
The reduced road capacity has, however, left the corridor more susceptible to severe congestion whenever crashes, breakdowns or other obstructions occur.
The Federal Government had previously said the repairs were necessary because the damaged expansion joints posed safety risks and could lead to more serious structural problems if left unattended.
Traffic authorities have continued to deploy personnel along the corridor to manage diversions, clear obstructions and facilitate movement during the rehabilitation.
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