Residents of Ikotun, Ejigbo, Isheri, Bucknor, and Jakande areas in Lagos faced a morning of severe frustration on Tuesday as the Isolo Bridge was completely closed for emergency repair works.
The unexpected closure caused massive traffic congestion across adjoining routes, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and forcing many to trek long distances to their workplaces. Commuters described the situation as chaotic and exhausting.
Vehicular movement from Jakande towards Isolo came to a complete halt. Meanwhile, motorists attempting to drive from Isolo to Jakande against traffic worsened the gridlock, further complicating the already dire situation.
As of 8:00 a.m., only a few traffic officers were on site trying to manage the snarled traffic. Residents and motorists expressed frustration, blaming state authorities for inadequate traffic planning and poor management during the repair works.
A construction worker on site explained that the team had initially intended to carry out the bridge repairs overnight. However, equipment failure delayed the work, forcing the crew to proceed in the morning.
“We wanted to do the repair work at night, but our equipment developed a fault,” the worker told Vanguard. “We only managed to fix it this morning, and since the materials for the job had already been prepared, we had to proceed immediately. If we delay, the materials will be damaged.”
Attempts by stranded commuters to convince the engineers to open one lane for vehicular movement were reportedly rejected. A site engineer insisted that the newly laid asphalt required at least three hours to dry before vehicles could pass safely.
The scorching morning sun did little to ease tensions as several commuters trekked along the blocked bridge, verbally expressing their anger toward the construction workers. Some motorists reportedly attempted to navigate through side roads, worsening congestion on nearby streets.
Relief came later when officers from the Idimu Police Division arrived at the scene. They successfully persuaded the construction crew to open a single lane on the bridge, allowing some traffic to flow and gradually reducing the gridlock.
By mid-morning, traffic began moving slowly across the Isolo Bridge, although congestion persisted on several adjoining roads. Commuters expressed relief but urged authorities to plan repair works more efficiently in the future to avoid similar disruptions.
The incident highlights the importance of proactive traffic management during essential infrastructure repairs. Experts recommend better coordination between construction teams and traffic authorities, as well as timely communication to commuters to prevent hours-long delays and widespread frustration.
With Lagos’s growing population and increasing vehicular density, authorities face mounting pressure to ensure that critical roadworks are executed with minimal disruption, especially on heavily trafficked bridges like Isolo.
Authorities are yet to provide a detailed update on the total duration of the repair works or measures to prevent future traffic snarls during emergency maintenance operations.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
