Lagos State Government announces traffic diversion plan ahead of 18-week maintenance of Mazamaza bridge

Sunday, January 18, 2026 - The Lagos State Government has announced an 18-week maintenance programme for Mazamaza Bridge along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, ahead of plans to demolish and rebuild the structure as part of the Blue Line Rail Phase 2 extension from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the repairs will begin on Monday, 19 January 2026 and will cover both the Toll and Service Lanes in both directions, focusing on expansion joints and other structural elements.

Osiyemi said the bridge will not be fully closed at any point and that traffic will be managed through diversions across the Toll, BRT, and Service Lanes to limit disruption.

“The Lagos State Government has released a traffic diversion plan for the maintenance works on the expansion joints and bridge elements of Mazamaza Bridge, both Service Lane and Toll Lane along the Lagos–Badagry Carriageway, inbound and outbound, commencing from Monday, 19 January 2026 to Thursday, 28 May 2026 (18 weeks),” the statement read in part.

According to the schedule, a preliminary phase from 24–30 January will prepare work zones and assess traffic needs. Phases 1–4, from 31 January to 30 March, will cover repairs on inbound Badagry lanes, while Phases 5–8 from 31 March to 2 June will focus on inbound Lagos lanes.

Motorists are expected to face lane restrictions throughout the 18-week period as maintenance runs through 28 May 2026.

The government also outlined temporary traffic arrangements. During the first phases on the Badagry-bound lanes, the BRT Corridor will be used while repairs affect the Toll Lane, and later the Toll Lane will serve as diversion when works shift to the BRT Corridor. Service Lane repairs will reduce traffic to a single lane before full access resumes. A similar pattern will apply during works on the Lagos-bound lanes, with diversions alternating between the BRT and Toll Lanes. Final work on Service Lanes will reduce flow to one lane before completion.

Drivers have been advised to obey traffic signs and follow instructions from officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority to ensure safety and maintain flow while maintenance is underway.

In December 2024, the Director of Rail Transport at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Olasunkanmi Okusaga, said structural assessments had shown the bridge lacked the required strength to support rail operations, prompting the decision to rebuild. He said the new Mazamaza Bridge would be constructed to international standards, supported by 66 piers and designed to last at least 75 years.