Traffic, Security Agencies Overwhelmed by Unruly Drivers as Kara Bridge Gridlock Hits 10 Hours

The ongoing Kara bridge repairs gridlock at the border of Lagos-Ogun states appears to have overwhelmed security and road traffic agencies as motorists exhibited unruly behaviour, road rage and driving against traffic.

Commuters were stranded for several hours along Lagos Ibadan Expressway for more than 10 hours on Wednesday due to the ongoing replacement of deteriorating expansion joints on the bridge.

The long-awaited rehabilitation of the Kara Bridge at the Lagos-Ogun border has come with a price as commuters and motorists were subjected to untold hardship on Wednesday.

PerSecondNews reports that the job marks a critical step toward permanently improving road safety and structural integrity on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Directed by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, the two-week project focuses on replacing deteriorating expansion joints to guarantee a smoother, safer commute for years to come.

While the ultimate goal is long-term relief, the active construction has temporarily disrupted daily transit, requiring significant patience from motorists.

The vital ongoing work has triggered several immediate traffic ripple effects across the corridor as the gridlock stretched back to Alapere in Kentucky toward the Third Mainland Bridge, affecting Ikorodu Road and surrounding areas.

It also resulted in scarcity of commercial buses along the route as it temporarily drove up transport fares by over 200 percent.

Road traffic and security agencies are actively working to manage the bottleneck and curb unruly driving behaviors from motorists attempting to bypass blocked lanes.

Originally slated for August, the project was strategically paused to allow for a comprehensive review of traffic management plans following public feedback.

Now actively underway, these essential repairs will conclude in two weeks, trading short-term commuter frustrations for a permanently upgraded, highly durable bridge.

Commenting on the traffic situation, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ogun State Sector Command, and other traffic management agencies said they have intensified efforts to ease the gridlock.

The Chief Route Commander and Public Relations Officer of the FRSC, Ogun State Sector Command, Afolabi Odunsi, said the command, in collaboration with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, the Police and other relevant agencies, had deployed personnel around the Kara Bridge and adjoining corridors to manage traffic, control diversions and respond to road crashes and vehicle breakdowns.

According to him, the agencies were also maintaining safety around the construction zone, monitoring traffic flow and intervening where necessary to prevent secondary crashes.

Odunsi attributed the congestion to the phased restriction of traffic on the bridge to facilitate the replacement of its deteriorating expansion joints.

He advised motorists who had no urgent reason to use the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to consider alternative routes, including the Ikorodu-Ogijo corridor, Shimawa Bridge and the old Abeokuta route.

Odunsi said: “Motorists could also consider routes around the Sango and Abeokuta axes, depending on their destinations.”

He urged motorists whose journeys were not urgent to consider postponing their trips or using alternative routes, particularly during peak periods.

Also, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the command was working with the Federal Ministry of Works and other relevant agencies to ease the traffic situation.

Babaseyi said that based on the mapping and traffic management plans provided, police personnel had been deployed to clear obstructions, assist motorists, regulate traffic flow and direct vehicles around the affected areas.

He said the Police were working to make movement along the corridor more manageable despite the restrictions occasioned by the bridge rehabilitation.
the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, attributed it to indiscipline on the part of motorists driving against the traffic.

He also attributed it to the fatal truck accident which caused spillover into the Lagos axis.

Mr Osiyemi said: “We are aware of the plight of the road users; we are on top of it and have launched machinery to address the situation.

“Both Lagos and Ogun governments, through Commissioners for Transportation, have had meetings with Commissioners of Police, FRSC authorities, General Managers of LASTMA, and the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, with other security agencies had a strategic meeting on Wednesday and set up a joint enforcement team to tackle the chaotic gridlock challenge.

“Traffic personnel, including both high/medium capacity tow-truck have been strategically deployed along Lagos Ibadan Express way to manage traffic effectively and remove and unforeseen encumbrances that may occur along the route.

“We have deployed over 100 traffic and security personnel on the axis to checkmate driving against the traffic, which has worsened the situation.

“I also have it on good authority that the repair works would be completed today and would still be left for about two or three days’ healing period before the bridge will be eventually opened to traffic fully.

“I can assure you that the gridlock situation would have subsided to a large extent.”

PerSecondNews reports that motorists have since Monday through Wednesday have been facing inconveniences especially those traveling from Abuja, Southeast, and Southsouth.

Commuters were forced to trek the distance to board buses to their respective destinations from Lagos end.

The rainstorms and truck crash on Tuesday night also worsened the traffic situation.