Commuters stranded as Kara bridge repairs triggers gridlock

“WE’VE BEEN HERE FOR HOURS” — LAGOS COMMUTERS STRANDED AS KARA BRIDGE REPAIRS TRIGGER GRIDLOCK

Hundreds of Lagos commuters and motorists were left stranded for hours on Wednesday as repair works on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway triggered severe gridlock along the busy corridor.

Commuters travelling towards Lagos described the situation as frustrating, with vehicles barely moving for hours as the traffic stretched from the Kara Bridge through 7Up Junction, the Lagos State Secretariat and the Otedola Underpass.
The congestion also spilled into connecting roads, including Otunba Jobi Fele Way, affecting motorists coming from Ikeja and Agege.

Some commuters said they were forced to spend several hours on journeys that ordinarily would take a fraction of the time.

The situation became even more chaotic as some commercial drivers reportedly resorted to driving against traffic in an attempt to escape the standstill.

“I have been here for hours and we are hardly moving,” one frustrated commuter was quoted as saying.

Another motorist appealed to authorities to improve traffic management around the construction zone, saying many commuters were caught unprepared by the scale of the congestion.

The repair works, which began on Tuesday, September 8, are expected to last until September 22, 2026. The project involves the replacement of deteriorating expansion joints and other works aimed at improving the safety and structural integrity of the bridge.

Personnel from FRSC, LASTMA, TRACE, the Police and the Military have been deployed to manage traffic.

Authorities have urged commuters without urgent business along the corridor to avoid the route and advised motorists to plan their journeys ahead.
For many commuters caught in Wednesday’s gridlock, however, the message was simple: the journey home has become a nightmare.