Motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have expressed frustration over the daily, hours-long traffic jams caused by ongoing repair work at the Kara Bridge.
PUNCH Metro correspondents, who monitored the traffic situation in recent days, observed that motorists travelling from Ibadan, Interchange, and Sagamu towards Lagos often spent several hours in gridlock.
It was gathered that the congestion was largely caused by the narrowness of the road at the repair site.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, motorists appealed to the Federal Government to find ways to ease the traffic.
A motorist, Lateef Oladele, who drives from Berger to Mowe-Ibafo, described his daily ordeal.
“From Mowe to Berger, I would use 45 minutes to one hour if there is no traffic. But now, just from the long bridge before Wawa, I can spend three hours if a trailer breaks down. People are not coming out again; those who can work from home are staying home,” he said.
Another motorist, Ibrahim, expressed similar frustration, saying, “There is always traffic every time I pass that road. If you’re going from Ibafo to Berger, you will spend no less than two to three hours on a journey of less than 15 minutes’ drive.
“We are not making money because of this traffic; we are just burning our fuel. It is just that we have to work; we cannot stay at home. Presently, they are not working; they just blocked the road.
“Since last week, I have not seen much progress. When they just started, I thought it would be finished in one week, but now it is going to two weeks, and I’m not seeing any difference.”
Another driver, Ishau Omolola, suggested carrying out the repairs overnight to ease congestion.
“The road is the busiest in Western Nigeria. My suggestion is that they should work overnight; that is the only solution that can ease the traffic. Though they just started about a week ago, the work can be faster than it is,” he said.
He urged the contractor to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps, the police, and other security agencies to curb the dangers associated with night work.
Omolola also recommended diversions to alternative routes.
“For instance, there’s a road coming from Magboro that links to Ifo. If such a road could connect Berger and Magboro and also provide access to Akute, it would be easier.
“Also, the Otedola Bridge should be repaired because it has caused many accidents. If the road were made flat and smooth, there would be fewer accidents, especially involving heavy-duty vehicles,” he said.
Meanwhile, some drivers reported experiencing alleged extortion by police officers along the highway.
A bus driver, who requested anonymity, narrated, “There was traffic on the road from Magboro because of the repairs at Kara. Although I didn’t enter the traffic, when I went to Arepo to drop some people off, I saw everybody passing the wrong way, so I joined them.
“At the police checkpoint, they were collecting money from everybody and allowing them to pass, but those who refused to pay were denied passage.”
Reacting to motorists’ concerns, the Federal Commissioner of Works in Ogun State, Layi Komolafe, told PUNCH Metro that dividing the road into two lanes was responsible for the gridlock.
He urged motorists to be patient and assured them that the work would soon be completed.
“The total width of the road is 14.5 metres, so we divided it into two. We’re working on one side while all vehicles move on the other, which has narrowed the road. But because of the traffic volume, there is no way to divert vehicles,” Komolafe explained.
He added that the death of a staff member during night work had prevented overnight repairs.
“We are still going to work on the Ibadan-bound side, but before we do, we will make radio and television announcements to sensitise commuters,” he concluded.
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