Truck accident causes traffic jam on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

A 40-foot container truck crashed into demarcation blocks and other vehicles at the exit of Kara Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday. This caused traffic to back up to New Garage.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the truck had a brake failure before the accident.
“A 40ft container-laden truck reportedly had a brake failure and rammed into the demarcation blocks and other vehicles at the exit of Kara Bridge,” the agency shared on X.

LASTMA mentioned that its officials and police were sent to the scene to manage traffic, while they worked to remove the damaged vehicles.
The crash occurred during repair work on Kara Bridge. The federal government is fixing damaged expansion joints on the bridge.

The two-week repair started on 8 September and should finish by 22 September.
Richard Adeleye, the Acting Controller of the Federal Ministry of Works in Ogun State, spoke to reporters while inspecting the road.
He explained that the repairs were needed because the expansion joints had reached the end of their life and could risk motorists' safety on the busy road.

Adeleye said the repairs would happen in phases to lessen traffic disruption. One side of the affected area was closed first while cars used the other side 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,” he added.

“We will first work on half of the expansion joint to allow traffic to go slowly on the other half of the carriageway. After one week, we will switch to the other end.”
These repairs have led to traffic restrictions around the bridge and nearby sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Kara Bridge has seen many accidents with heavy-duty vehicles.
In January, two people died in a multiple-vehicle crash near the Kara area.

LASTMA also reported another accident on Tuesday involving a loaded trailer and a Sport Utility Vehicle on the bridge heading towards Mowe.
The agency advised drivers using this route to drive carefully and follow the instructions of traffic officials at the scene.