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The Digest:

The Federal Ministry of Works has announced a two-week traffic diversion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for urgent repairs to damaged expansion joints on the Kara Bridge, outbound Lagos. The maintenance work begins Tuesday, March 10, and is expected to conclude March 24, 2026. Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Olayiwola Komolafe, advised motorists to use alternative routes: drivers heading from Ikorodu to Mowe, Sagamu, and Ibadan should pass through Shimawa or Mosinmi, while those from Lagos Island can take the Epe corridor via Ijebu Ode. The ministry cautioned that shorter routes may not necessarily be fastest and urged motorists to plan journeys early, obey traffic management directives, and drive cautiously around the work zone. The repairs follow a previously announced six-week partial closure for work on expansion joints at Kara, Magboro, and Arepo-Punch Bridges.

Key Point:
  • The two-week timeline suggests targeted, urgent repairs rather than major reconstruction.
  • Alternative route recommendations aim to minimize disruption on the busy corridor.
  • Previous public complaints about prolonged traffic congestion influenced the current approach.
  • Deteriorated expansion joints pose safety risks, making repairs necessary despite inconvenience.
  • Motorists advised to plan early as shorter routes may not guarantee faster travel.
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway users face two weeks of diversions as the FG moves to fix dangerous expansion joints on Kara Bridge, a necessary inconvenience for long-term safety on Nigeria's busiest highway.

Sources: Federal Ministry of Works