FERMA to shut Lagos-Ibadan bridge over repairs

Motorists traveling along the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway are expected to face impending travel delays as the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) prepares to shut down the Kara Bridge section for 14 days to execute urgent repairs on its worn-out expansion joints.

The temporary closure will take effect from September 8, 2026, with the bridge scheduled to fully reopen to traffic on September 21, 2026..

Disclosing this during a public sensitization exercise on Saturday, the Acting Federal Controller of Works in Ogun state, Engr. Richard Adeleye, stated that the intervention became critical after years of continuous usage degraded the bridge’s expansion joints.

He noted that earlier repair schedules were postponed due to high traffic volumes along the corridor, but further delay risks severe structural damage..

“Expansion joints allow bridge structures to accommodate movement caused by temperature fluctuations.

“Failing to replace these worn-out joints risks cracking, buckling, and other serious structural failures”, he said

He however said the agency have provided avenue to minimize disruption, stating that the rehabilitation work will follow a phased approach.

“In Phase 1, work will commence on one half of the carriageway, restricting traffic to a controlled single lane on the opposing side.

” Phase 2, construction will shift to the remaining half of the bridge until completion.

“To maintain order and mitigate gridlock, officers from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), and other sister traffic management agencies will maintain a continuous presence on-site”, he added

Engr. Adeleye however appealed to commuters for patience and urged motorists heading toward Ibadan and beyond to plan ahead and utilize alternative bypasses, such as the Ogijo-Ikorodu axis, throughout the 14-day exercise.