The Federal Government has announced that repair work on the damaged expansion joints at the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will begin on September 8 and is expected to last two weeks.
The Federal Ministry of Works made this known on Saturday during an inspection of the affected section of the expressway.
The Acting Controller of the Federal Ministry of Works in Ogun State, Engr. Richard Adeleye, said the repair was necessary because the expansion joints had exceeded their service life and had become a danger to motorists.
He explained that the work would be carried out in phases to reduce the impact on traffic.
According to him, one half of the affected section would initially be closed while vehicles use the other half under controlled traffic conditions. After one week, the repair would move to the other side.
‘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.
He added that traffic would be allowed to move slowly through the available section while the repairs were being carried out.
Personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority will be deployed to control traffic and ensure the safety of motorists and workers.
Adeleye explained that expansion joints allow bridges to expand and contract naturally as temperatures change.
He warned that leaving damaged expansion joints unrepaired could cause serious damage to the bridge, including cracking and buckling.
He said the damaged joint had also contributed to several accidents in the area, making the repair urgent.
‘It is better done now because it has been causing a lot of accidents. We have witnessed it, even the last time we came here. It happened right here in our presence,’ he said.
Adeleye assured motorists that the repair would be completed within two weeks, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
He advised motorists travelling towards Ibadan to consider alternative routes such as the Ikorodu-Ogijo Road and roads around Sango and Abeokuta where suitable.
However, motorists who choose to use the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will still be allowed to pass through the construction area under controlled traffic conditions.
The affected construction zone will cover about 100 metres, meaning motorists will leave the restricted area shortly after crossing the bridge.
Adeleye described the repair as an important project aimed at protecting the bridge and said the new expansion joints were expected to last between 10 and 20 years.
The Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, also said traffic control would be maintained throughout the repair period.
Hamzat said the FRSC would increase its presence around the construction area and divert traffic when necessary to reduce congestion and prevent accidents.
He described the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as an important route for the Nigerian economy and urged motorists to be patient, obey traffic rules and exercise caution around the construction zone.
He also advised motorists whose journeys were not urgent to consider avoiding the road during the repair.
Hamzat said the repair had been postponed several times because of concerns about traffic management and appeals from members of the public. He expressed hope that there would be no further delay this time.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo, represented by the Director of Transportation Services, Engr. Hassan Ibrahim, also advised motorists to plan their journeys ahead of the September 8 commencement date.
He recommended the Ikorodu-Ogijo Road, Shimawa Bridge and the old road to Abeokuta as alternative routes for motorists travelling from Lagos.
He also urged motorists to obey warning signs and follow instructions from traffic management officials around the construction area.