Trailer crash on Lagos-Ibadan expressway causes gridlock, motorists divert to bush paths

Severe traffic congestion is ongoing along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following a trailer accident that occurred at around 1am on Tuesday.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the trailer fell on the expressway at around 1am and was yet to be removed as of Tuesday morning, leaving motorists with only one available lane to navigate the affected section.

The situation has continued to worsen as more vehicles join the standstill, resulting in a long stretch of traffic and delays for motorists travelling through the affected stretch.

An eyewitness, Miss Tolani, who spoke with PUNCH Metro, said vehicles had been virtually at a standstill since the trailer fell at around 1am.

She said the increasing number of vehicles on the expressway was worsening the situation, as motorists struggled to pass through the available lane.

Some motorists had resorted to using hidden roads and bush paths to escape the traffic on the expressway. The diversion had also caused heavy traffic on roads within the Mowe and Ofada areas, as more vehicles moved onto the alternative routes.

The situation has left motorists stranded for hours, with traffic continuing to build up as more vehicles arrived at the affected section

Confirming the incident, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority spokesperson Akinbiyi Babatunde told PUNCH Metro that the crash had caused an obstruction on the expressway and that efforts were ongoing to restore normal traffic flow.

Akinbiyi said: “The crash, which occurred along the outbound carriageway at Sinowa, has resulted in a major obstruction to the free flow of traffic. The situation has been further compounded by impatient motorists attempting to leave their designated lane and cross into the opposite section of the expressway.”

He added that traffic management officials had been deployed to the affected areas to ease the situation, urging motorists to remain patient and obey traffic directives.

“TRACE, FRSC and the police have been deployed to the affected areas as they strive to normalise traffic flow. Motorists are advised to exercise patience, avoid driving against traffic and refrain from lane indiscipline,” he said.

Akinbiyi also advised motorists to consider alternative routes where practicable, including the Old Lagos-Sango-Ifo-Ewekoro-Abeokuta Expressway, the Sagamu-Sotubo-Ogijo-Ikorodu Expressway and the Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway.

PUNCH Metro gathered that traffic congestion was still building up along both carriageways of the expressway as of Tuesday morning, with the situation worsened by motorists attempting to divert through inner roads and bush paths.