Kara Bridge Construction: Could Better Traffic Planning Have Saved Lagosians This Nightmare?

As an observer—or should I simply say, as a Lagosian myself—I have experienced firsthand the endless traffic that has followed the announcement of the Kara Bridge construction.

The press release gave commuters a warning, but honestly, I don’t think anyone was prepared for the nightmare that came with it.

For the past two days, navigating that route has been a serious challenge, with hours spent in traffic for what would normally be a much shorter journey.

Since the construction started, many Lagosians have been stuck in endless traffic and long queues. Some commuters have spent hours standing and waiting for buses, while others have had to queue for specific means of transport such as Keke or Marwa.

At some points, the situation has become so frustrating that people push and struggle with one another just to get into a bus when it finally arrives. For some commuters, the only option has been to give up and trek back home.

The Warning Came, But Nobody Was Ready for the Reality

The press release may have warned Lagosians about the construction, but knowing that there would be traffic and experiencing the actual situation are two completely different things.

It is normal for Lagos to have traffic but the level of traffic after the Kara bridge construction started it's another a whole lot of different levels.

The worsening traffic has forced many Lagosians to leave work earlier than usual, just to avoid spending hours on the road on their way home.

Yet, despite the early evenings, the long queues and the hours spent on the road, which affected the late evening and then complaints continue to pour in with no clear solution in sight.

For many commuters, the question is no longer just how to avoid the traffic, but how long they are expected to endure it.

From Long Queues to Trekking Home

Immediately in the evening, especially from around 6 p.m., the traffic becomes extremely serious. The situation has affected not only motorists but also people who depend on public transportation.

Commuters stand for long periods waiting for buses, while others queue specifically for Keke or Marwa.

When a bus finally arrives, the desperation to get a seat can become another problem, with people pushing and struggling just to enter.

And for some people, after waiting for so long without getting a vehicle, the only option is to give up and trek back home.

This is no longer just about spending extra time on the road. It is affecting people's daily routines, work, school and energy after the day is over, instead of immediately getting home, you will spend more hours on the road.

Could the Ministry of Transportation Have Done More?

This raises an important question: if the Ministry of Transportation and other authorities knew that the Kara Bridge construction would cause such a major disruption, why were better alternative routes or shortcuts not put in place to make the traffic flow a little smoother?

The construction itself may be necessary, and most Lagosians understand that roads and bridges sometimes have to be repaired or reconstructed. But commuters should not have to bear the full burden of getting around the affected area.

There should have been a clearer traffic-management plan that considered not only motorists but also the thousands of people who depend on buses, Keke and Marwa every day.

Conclusion

As a Lagosian experiencing this situation firsthand, I understand that construction cannot happen without some level of disruption.

But there is a difference between unavoidable traffic and traffic that could have been better managed.

The warning was given, but perhaps the preparation was not enough. If the Kara Bridge project is going to continue, the authorities need to look beyond the construction itself and focus on how people will move around it.

Because for the average Lagosian, the question is simple: if we must endure the construction, can the traffic at least be made bearable?