The Federal Government has announced plans to commence major repair works on the damaged expansion joints of the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on September 8, 2026.

The rehabilitation exercise, expected to last two weeks, will involve partial closure of the affected section of the busy highway, with traffic diverted and controlled throughout the construction period.

The Acting Controller of the Federal Ministry of Works in Ogun State, Engr. Richard Adeleye, disclosed this during an inspection of the damaged portion of the bridge.

Adeleye said the repairs had become necessary following the deterioration of the bridge’s expansion joints, which he said had exceeded their service life and were posing serious risks to motorists.

According to him, the rehabilitation work will be carried out in phases to reduce disruption to traffic along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

He explained that one section of the affected carriageway would initially be closed while motorists move through the other section under strict traffic management.

“There will be traffic control here from the 8th of this month, which will last for two weeks, precisely because of the curing that is expected before it is opened to traffic,” Adeleye said.

“We will first work on half of the expansion joint to allow traffic to go slowly on the other half of the carriageway. After one week, we will switch to the other end.”

He said officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and other relevant agencies would be deployed to manage traffic during the rehabilitation.

Adeleye explained that expansion joints play a critical role in bridges by allowing structures to expand and contract in response to changes in temperature.He warned that damaged or missing expansion joints could result in serious structural damage, including cracks and buckling.

“Without expansion joints on the bridge, there could be serious damage to the bridge itself because of expansion due to the heat during the day and shrinking during the cold times of the day,” he said.

“The expansion joint absorbs that movement of the bridge; otherwise, it can cause serious damage by buckling or cracking.”The Federal Ministry of Works assured motorists that the rehabilitation would be completed within two weeks, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Adeleye urged road users to remain patient, noting that the damaged expansion joints had contributed to several accidents around the Kara Bridge axis.

He advised motorists travelling towards Ibadan to explore alternative routes, including the Ogijo-Ikorodu Road and routes around the Sango and Abeokuta corridors where necessary.

Motorists who choose to continue their journey through the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, however, will still be allowed to pass through the construction area under controlled traffic conditions.

The affected construction zone will cover approximately 100 metres, with motorists expected to exit the restricted area shortly after crossing the bridge.

Adeleye described the project as a critical intervention aimed at protecting the structural integrity of the bridge, adding that the newly installed expansion joints are expected to last between 10 and 20 years.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, said traffic control would be intensified throughout the rehabilitation period to protect both motorists and construction workers.

Hamzat said the agency would deploy personnel around the construction area and divert traffic when necessary to reduce congestion and prevent accidents.

“Every construction needs traffic control so that the people working can work seamlessly without any hitches. We will intensify traffic control in the area and divert traffic when necessary,” he said.

He described the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as a critical economic corridor and urged motorists to obey traffic regulations, exercise patience and avoid unnecessary trips through the Kara Bridge area during the rehabilitation.

Hamzat added that the repair work had been postponed several times due to concerns about traffic management and appeals from members of the public.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo, represented by the Director of Transportation Services, Engr. Hassan Ibrahim, advised motorists to plan their journeys ahead of the September 8 commencement date.

He recommended alternative routes for motorists travelling from Lagos, including the Ikorodu-Ogijo Road, Shimawa Bridge and the old Abeokuta Road.

The government also urged motorists to comply with traffic signs and instructions from traffic management officials throughout the two-week Kara Bridge rehabilitation exercise.