Traffic congestion has worsened on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, leaving commuters and motorists stranded for several hours around the Kara Bridge and adjoining routes as ongoing repair works continue to restrict movement.
The situation was further aggravated by a multiple-vehicle crash involving a container-laden truck on Tuesday, with some commuters reportedly trapped on the road overnight while others resorted to trekking long distances to reach their destinations.
As of Wednesday morning, heavy traffic persisted around Kara Bridge, Berger, OPIC, Long Bridge and adjoining routes, with congestion also affecting Ojota, Ogba and Maryland.
Some commuters who left Lagos on Tuesday evening said they remained stuck on the road for hours.
One commuter said he resorted to trekking from New Garage to Berger after the traffic became unbearable.
Another truck driver, travelling to Aba, said he was still stuck around Ikeja at about 3 a.m. Wednesday after spending the night on the road.
The prolonged gridlock also disrupted public transportation, with some commuters reporting difficulty securing buses to work on Wednesday morning.
The congestion comes amid ongoing rehabilitation of the Kara Bridge, where deteriorating expansion joints are being replaced.
The two-week repair project, directed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, commenced on September 8 and is expected to run until September 22.
The Federal Ministry of Works had explained that the expansion joints had exceeded their service life and required replacement to improve road safety and preserve the structural integrity of the bridge.
The repairs are being carried out in phases, with one half of the affected section closed while traffic is diverted to the other side under traffic management arrangements.
The project was initially scheduled for August but was postponed following concerns over traffic management and its potential impact on motorists and commuters.
However, the reduction in road capacity has left the corridor particularly vulnerable to severe congestion whenever accidents or vehicle breakdowns occur.
That vulnerability was exposed on Tuesday when a 40-foot container truck crashed at Kara Bridge.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, said preliminary findings indicated that the truck developed a mechanical fault while in motion, causing the driver to lose control and collide with six other vehicles.
The vehicles involved included the container truck, a Toyota Hilux, an interstate bus, a Hyundai Odyssey, a Sienna, a Toyota Highlander and another Mitsubishi Hilux.
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Emergency responders arrived at the scene at about 6:05 a.m., while LASEMA, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and the police worked to manage the situation and recover the vehicles.
The affected vehicles were later removed from the carriageway with assistance from private towing operators.
The crash, however, compounded the existing traffic situation as the affected section was temporarily obstructed.
A separate container-laden trailer incident on Tuesday afternoon also worsened the congestion caused by the bridge repairs, leading to the closure of the Lagos-bound section and affecting motorists travelling in the opposite direction.
Authorities subsequently began removing barriers around the construction area to create an alternative passage and ease movement, while LASTMA and Ogun State traffic officials were deployed to manage traffic.
The resulting gridlock spread beyond Kara and Berger, affecting connecting routes towards Lagos, with congestion extending beyond Long Bridge towards Magboro and into parts of Lagos.
The traffic crisis also triggered increases in transport fares on some routes.
Commuters reported fares of up to ₦4,000 from Berger to Oshodi, ₦3,500 from Berger to Mowe, ₦1,500 from Agege to OPIC and ₦2,000 from Magboro to Berger.
For many road users, the impact has extended beyond delayed journeys, with commuters reporting lost working hours, additional fuel expenses, higher transport costs and physical exhaustion.
Some commuters have abandoned vehicles or resorted to walking long distances in an effort to escape the gridlock.
The latest development has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of the Kara-OPIC corridor, a major route for commuters, commercial vehicles and goods travelling between Lagos, Ogun State and other parts of the country.
The Federal Government had maintained that the Kara Bridge repairs were necessary because the deteriorated expansion joints posed safety risks and could lead to more serious structural problems if left unattended.
Traffic management personnel have continued to operate along the corridor to control diversions and minimise further obstruction.