The Federal Government will begin a two-week rehabilitation of the damaged expansion joints on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from Tuesday, September 8, 2026, a move expected to cause temporary traffic restrictions along the busy route.
Richard Adeleye, Acting Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, disclosed this on Saturday after inspecting the affected section of the expressway.
Adeleye said the rehabilitation became necessary because the expansion joints had deteriorated after exceeding their expected service life, creating safety concerns for motorists using the bridge.
He explained that the work would be carried out in phases to minimise disruption to traffic. Initially, one half of the affected section will be closed while motorists use the other half under strict traffic control.
“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.
According to him, workers will first repair one half of the expansion joint while traffic moves slowly on the other half of the carriageway. After one week, the work will shift to the other end to allow the rehabilitation to continue without completely shutting the section.
Personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and other relevant agencies will be deployed to manage traffic throughout the rehabilitation period.
Adeleye explained that expansion joints are essential components of bridges because they allow the structures to expand and contract naturally in response to changes in temperature.
He warned that leaving damaged expansion joints unrepaired could result in serious structural problems, including buckling and cracking of the bridge.
“The expansion joint absorbs that movement of the bridge; otherwise, it can cause serious damage by buckling or cracking,” he said.
The controller assured motorists that the rehabilitation is expected to be completed within two weeks, “all things being equal”.
He appealed to road users to remain patient and cooperate with traffic management personnel during the exercise, noting that the damaged expansion joint had contributed to accidents along the section.
Motorists using the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, particularly the Kara Bridge section, are therefore advised to plan their journeys ahead and follow instructions from traffic management officials throughout the rehabilitation.
