The Federal Government has announced a six-week partial closure of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway to allow for urgent repairs on deteriorated expansion joints at Kara Bridge, Magboro Bridge and Arepo–Punch Bridge.
Gatekeepers News reports that the closure, announced on Thursday by the Federal Ministry of Works, is aimed at resuming rehabilitation works that were earlier suspended on the Lagos-bound section of Kara Bridge following public complaints over prolonged traffic congestion.
Speaking to journalists at Kara Bridge, the Ogun State Federal Controller of Works, Michael Komolafe, apologised to road users for the inconvenience and assured them that improved traffic management measures would be put in place to ensure swift and durable repairs.
Komolafe said the expansion joints on the three bridges had deteriorated badly, posing safety risks and contributing to road crashes.
He explained that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, had directed that urgent action be taken, adding that work had already been completed on half of the Lagos-bound sections of the Magboro and Arepo–Punch bridges.
“The remaining portions on the Ibadan-bound side will now be addressed,” he said.
The General Manager of CBC Construction Company, Andy Duan, said the repair work would take six weeks, with equipment mobilisation to be completed over the weekend and full construction expected to begin on Monday.
He disclosed that parts of the expansion joints at Magboro and Arepo–Punch bridges had already been completed, while half of the Lagos-bound section at Kara Bridge was done.
“At Kara Bridge, we have finished half of it. So we are facing the other half of it. Instead of causing traffic, that’s why we suspended the work temporarily. Now we are getting instructions from the Ministry of Works to resolve this issue,” Duan said.
He added that the expansion joint at Kara Bridge was in very poor condition and had been causing accidents.
Before the diversion begins, Duan said barriers would be installed to protect the work area, while traffic signs, warning lights and other safety devices would be deployed to safeguard motorists and workers.
“We are supposed to start immediately, but we are shifting it to Monday. We expect to complete half of each expansion joint within a week. For the Ibadan-bound side, covering three bridges, we will divide the work into phases so each bridge takes about a week,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kehinde Hamzat, assured motorists that measures had been put in place to maintain traffic flow during the construction period.
He warned against driving against traffic, stressing that violators would be sanctioned.
Hamzat said the repairs were prompted by reports of failing expansion joints that had created ditches and caused crashes, particularly on Kara Bridge. He urged motorists to cooperate and be patient, describing the closure as a necessary step to improve road safety.
