Motorists and commuters using the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have continued to face severe hardship as ongoing repairs on the Kara Bridge trigger prolonged traffic congestion along the major Lagos-Ogun corridor.
The latest disruption followed the commencement of repairs on damaged expansion joints on the bridge on September 8, with traffic stretching for several kilometres into Lagos and leaving motorists stranded for hours.
The Federal Ministry of Works had earlier announced that the repair would last two weeks after a previous plan to commence the work in July was postponed over concerns about the likely impact on traffic.
However, the latest intervention has renewed concerns over the recurring repair of sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which underwent a major reconstruction that lasted about a decade before its completion in 2023.
Motorists have complained that the repeated maintenance works on the route continue to create serious disruption despite the completion of the reconstruction.
The effects have also extended beyond traffic delays, with commuters spending more money on transportation while commercial drivers lose valuable working hours due to the prolonged congestion.
Some workers living in Ogun State and working in Lagos have reportedly considered staying overnight in Lagos or using longer alternative routes to avoid the gridlock.
Traffic management officials from the police, military, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Federal Road Safety Corps and Ogun State traffic authorities have been deployed to manage the situation.
The latest repairs have also raised questions about the durability of previous interventions and whether the Federal Government can develop a maintenance system that addresses problems before they become major disruptions.
An infrastructure expert, Babatunji Adegoke, said regular maintenance was necessary but argued that the focus should shift from reactive repairs to planned and preventive maintenance.
He said regular inspections and monitoring could help identify defects early and allow repairs to be scheduled in a way that causes less disruption to road users.
Another civil engineer, Bright Ezeonye, said repeated repairs of the same components could raise concerns about the quality of previous work and supervision, while stressing the need for proper traffic impact assessments before major repairs.
The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Michael Komolafe, however, said the current intervention was designed to be durable and should last for a long period under normal conditions.
He also pointed to the heavy loads carried by vehicles using the highway, saying overloading puts additional pressure on roads and bridges.
