Federal Ministry of Works Suspends Planned Kara Bridge Repairs on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

The Federal Ministry of Works has indefinitely suspended the planned rehabilitation of a section of the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, just hours before the project was scheduled to begin.

The repair work, which was initially set to commence on July 28, 2026, was expected to last for two weeks and was designed to improve the bridge’s safety, durability, and overall structural integrity.

Announcing the development on Tuesday, the Acting Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Engr. R. Adeleye, confirmed that the project had been put on hold following directives from higher authorities.

According to Adeleye, the decision was made due to what he described as “very crucial reasons.” While he did not provide specific details behind the suspension, he assured the public that a new commencement date would be communicated once arrangements are finalized.

The unexpected announcement came at the last minute after road users had already been notified about the planned maintenance exercise.

Before the suspension was announced, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, had issued a traffic advisory outlining measures that would be implemented during the rehabilitation period.

Under the original traffic management plan, the existing four-lane carriageway on the affected section of the bridge was to be temporarily reduced to two lanes across a 1.5-kilometre stretch. The lane reduction was intended to provide a safe working area for engineers while allowing traffic to continue moving through the corridor.

Motorists had also been warned to expect partial traffic congestion around the Kara axis throughout the repair period. Traffic authorities anticipated moderate delays, particularly around the Fatgbems Turn, where some drivers were expected to make U-turns or divert to alternative routes to avoid congestion.

Despite the anticipated disruptions, traffic heading toward Ibadan beyond the Fatgbems Turn was expected to experience minimal delays under the original traffic plan.

The Lagos State Government had encouraged motorists to plan their journeys ahead of time, consider alternative routes where possible, and cooperate with traffic management officials to ease the flow of vehicles during the rehabilitation exercise.

With the project now suspended indefinitely, motorists using the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway can continue to use the Kara Bridge under normal traffic conditions until further notice.

The Federal Ministry of Works has not disclosed the reasons behind the postponement or announced a new date for the commencement of the rehabilitation project. Road users are expected to await further updates from the ministry regarding when the critical maintenance work will eventually begin.