The Federal Government has announced a six-week partial closure of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway to allow for urgent repair works on key bridges along the corridor.
The announcement was made by the Federal Ministry of Works, which said the closure would enable repairs on damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge, Magboro Bridge and Arepo–Punch Bridge. According to the ministry, the intervention is critical to ensuring the safety of motorists and preventing further deterioration of the structures.
Speaking to journalists at Kara Bridge, the Ogun State Federal Controller of Works, Michael Komolafe, explained that the repairs were necessary to resume rehabilitation works earlier suspended on the Lagos-bound section of Kara Bridge due to complaints over severe traffic congestion.
Komolafe apologised to road users for the inconvenience the partial closure may cause and assured them that improved traffic management measures would be put in place to minimise disruption. He noted that the worn-out expansion joints on the affected bridges posed serious safety risks and had contributed to several road accidents.
He added that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, had ordered immediate repairs to avert further incidents and restore the integrity of the bridges.
Providing an update on the project, the General Manager of CBC Construction Company, Andy Duan, said repair works on the Lagos-bound sections of Magboro and Arepo–Punch bridges had already been completed, while attention would now shift to the Ibadan-bound lanes.
“At Kara Bridge, half of the Lagos-bound section has been completed, and work will now continue on the remaining part,” Duan said, describing the condition of the expansion joints at Kara Bridge as extremely poor and a major contributor to traffic accidents.
He disclosed that construction equipment would be mobilised over the weekend, with full repair works scheduled to begin on Monday. According to him, each bridge will be repaired in phases, with half of each expansion joint expected to be completed within one week.
Duan assured motorists that safety would remain a priority throughout the construction period, noting that barriers, warning signs and lighting would be installed to protect both road users and workers.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kehinde Hamzat, appealed to motorists to remain patient and comply with traffic rules during the repair period. He warned against traffic violations, particularly driving against traffic, stressing that offenders would be sanctioned.
Hamzat explained that the repairs were vital to addressing failing expansion joints that had created dangerous ditches on the roadway, especially at Kara Bridge, and had been responsible for multiple accidents.
