Gridlock imminent as Lagos begins major rehabilitation works on Lekki–Epe Expressway

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government has released a comprehensive traffic management plan ahead of the rehabilitation of Sections 2 and 3 of the Lekki–Epe Expressway, scheduled to commence on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

The plan was unveiled following an on-site inspection of the rehabilitation corridor by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola.

The inspection confirmed that all arrangements were in place for the project to begin as scheduled.

Speaking during the visit, Daramola explained that the rehabilitation of both carriageways, initially slated for December 2025, was postponed due to heightened end-of-year activities.

He said the fresh inspection was necessary to reassess the scope of work and align construction plans with traffic management strategies.

According to him, the rehabilitation will be executed in eight phases, with works on both the Lagos-bound and Epe-bound carriageways expected to last about two months each.

Explaining the traffic strategy, Osiyemi said construction would be carried out intersection by intersection rather than across the entire corridor at once, noting that work would proceed both day and night to meet the project timeline.

He added that adequate traffic management personnel would be deployed to manage sectional closures and contraflow operations, with particular attention to peak traffic periods.

The commissioner said traffic signage, illumination and continuous monitoring would be prioritised, especially along the Coastal Road, which will serve as the primary alternative route. He urged motorists to comply with traffic managers’ directives to ensure smoother movement throughout the construction period.

Reiterating the need for proper journey planning, Giwa advised motorists heading towards Lagos to connect to the Coastal Road via Ogombo through Abraham Adesanya, enabling them to completely bypass the Lekki–Epe Expressway.

He added that an alternative access is available via Eleganza, Orchid Road, Lafiaji and Naale Street.

Under the advisory, rehabilitation works will commence from Chevron to Igbo-Efon on the Lagos-bound carriageway using a structured eight-intersection phased approach, with timelines ranging from five to 18 days per segment.

During construction, sections of the Lagos-bound carriageway will be closed, while traffic will be diverted to the Epe-bound side using a dynamic lane-sharing system.

For morning peak hours between 4:00am and 12:00pm, two lanes will be available for Lagos-bound traffic and one lane for Epe-bound motorists.

During evening peak periods from 1:00pm to 3:00am, two lanes will be allocated to Epe-bound traffic and one lane to Lagos-bound vehicles.

The state government assured residents and commuters that adequate security, traffic officers and emergency responders would be on ground throughout the rehabilitation period to manage unforeseen situations.

It said the project, aimed at improving road durability, safety and overall commuter experience along the Lekki–Epe axis, has been carefully planned to minimise disruptions and appealed for the patience and cooperation of road users in the collective interest of long-term development.