In a move aimed at safeguarding infrastructure and easing long-term traffic flow, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has announced a 15-day closure of the Marine Bridge in Ijora, Apapa Local Government Area. The shutdown, bidirectional but staged in two phases, will allow essential maintenance work on the bridge’s underlying bearings, a project coordinated with the Federal Ministry of Works.

• Phase 1: Saturday, Oct. 11 to Saturday, Oct. 18
  • Work area: From the foot of Marine Bridge (Lawani Oguntayo Road by UBA, inbound Apapa/Costain)
  • Traffic diversions:
    • Vehicles from Ijora Olopa heading to Apapa will be diverted to the Ijora Causeway Access Ramp by Omni Retail Company, connect to Ijora 7up, then turn left to Lilypond Access Ramp to continue their journey.
• Phase 2: Sunday, Oct. 19 to Saturday, Oct. 25
  • Work area: Between Ijora Badia and Lilypond Access Ramp (inbound Apapa)
  • Traffic diversions:
    • Vehicles from Ijora Olopa heading to Apapa and Costain will be diverted 50 meters before the work zone into a contraflow with Costain-bound traffic, rejoining the carriageway after 500 meters.
    • For Apapa-bound traffic towards Costain/Lagos Island/Ijora Olopa, through traffic will be maintained, but as motorists approach to the work zone, motorists will be diverted to form a contraflow with Costain-bound traffic for roughly 500 meters before regaining full access afterwards.

• The maintenance targets underlying bearings on the Marine Bridge, a critical piece of Lagos’s transport fabric. By carrying out these works in two phases, LASG aims to minimise disruption while ensuring the bridge remains safe and reliable for daily commuters and freight movements.
• Traffic management is a key component of the project, with explicit diversions designed to keep traffic moving in the interim and reduce bottlenecks.

What You Should Know

• Plan: The closure spans two weeks in two phases. Check local advisories and map out alternate routes ahead of your travel times.
• Expect detours: The official diversions run through Ijora Causeway Access Ramp, Lilypond Access Ramp, and associated connectors. The exact routes may shift based on real-time conditions, so stay alert for signs and lane changes.
• Allow extra time: Even with contraflows and diversions, delays are possible, especially during peak hours. Build in buffer time for critical trips.
• Follow traffic controllers: Obey all signs, signals, and directions from traffic management personnel on the ground.

• LASG’s maintenance initiative underscores ongoing efforts to preserve Lagos’s ageing infrastructure while balancing the needs of a bustling port corridor. If you rely on this route, consider adjusting schedules, using alternative corridors, or accessing public transport options during the closure window.
• For updates, keep an eye on LASG communications channels and local media outlets as the two-phase plan progresses.