badan Iwo Road to Ojoo New Diversion Explained: How Construction Is Changing Traffic and What Drivers Should Do

Major Road Work Has Started Again In Ibadan

If you live and drive in Ibadan, you already know that Iwo Road Interchange is one of the busiest places in the city. Every day, thousands of cars, buses, micras and trailers pass there to go to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Challenge, UI, Ojoo, Moniya and Iwo Road itself.

Last week, the Oyo State Government started a new phase of road construction on the Iwo Road to Ojoo road. The reason is to fix the bad spots that always cause flood and to expand the road for more vehicles. This work has now led to a traffic diversion that is affecting everyone who uses that road daily — drivers, bus conductors, traders, students and workers.

Many people woke up on Monday to see road signs saying "Diversion Ahead" and officers of Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) blocking the main lane. At first it caused confusion, but now the new system is clear.

Where Exactly Is The Construction Happening?

The construction is focused on two places:

1. The service lane from Iwo Road Interchange inward Agbowo to Ojoo
2. The bad portion near 5 Star junction and the drainage along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway link

Contractors have brought heavy machines to dig the old drainage and lay new culverts. The road surface is being scraped and will be re-tarred. According to information from https://oyoaffairs.net, this phase of work is expected to last for about 4 to 6 weeks if rain does not disturb them.

What The New Route Looks Like Now

Because the main road is blocked, OYRTMA and some Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officers have created temporary routes. If you do not know it, you will waste time. Here is how it works now in simple form:

• If you are coming from Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and going to Ojoo, Moniya or UI: When you reach Iwo Road Interchange, you will not go straight as before. You will be diverted to the left service lane that passes behind the Iwo Road motor park. You will follow that narrow lane, pass by Agbowo Shopping Complex and come out at Ojoo roundabout. The lane is small and not very smooth, so you need to drive slowly.

• If you are coming from Ojoo or Moniya going to Iwo Road, Challenge or Lagos: You will not climb the interchange bridge. At 5 Star, officers will direct you to take the Basorun link road. You will pass through Yanbule and General Gas and connect back to Iwo Road near the Oyo State Housing Corporation area.

• If you are going to UI, Samonda or Sango from Iwo Road: You need to enter the same service lane and follow signs to Agbowo. From Agbowo you can now enter UI gate. Some buses now avoid Agbowo completely and go through Barika to cut traffic.

• For public transport and keke: The normal bus stop at Iwo Road under bridge has been shifted. Buses now park far from the bridge, close to the motor park entrance. Many passengers have to trek about 5 to 10 minutes to connect another bus. Micra and keke fare from Iwo Road to Ojoo moved from N400 to N600, and to Challenge from N500 to N700.

How This Diversion Is Affecting People Daily

This change has affected life in Ibadan in many ways.

For drivers, fuel consumption has increased. Because of the go-slow, many spend extra 45 minutes to 1 hour in traffic. In the morning between 7am and 10:30am, the traffic from Agbowo to Iwo Road can stretch for more than 2 kilometres. In the evening between 4pm and 8:30pm, the same happens from Ojoo inward Iwo Road. Private car owners complain that the temporary road has sand and small stones that can damage tyres.

For public transport users, it is even harder. Students of University of Ibadan who live in Iwo Road, Ojoo and Moniya now leave home by 5:30am to meet 8am lectures. One 300 level student said, "I now spend N1,200 daily for transport instead of N800. And I still trek far before I see bus."

For traders and market women, business is slow. Traders at Iwo Road market and Agbowo market say customers are avoiding the area because of traffic. A woman selling food near the interchange said, "Before, drivers stop to buy food. Now nobody stops because they are in a hurry to escape traffic."

For okada and micra riders, it is mixed. Some say they make more money because passengers prefer okada to escape traffic. But they also spend more on fuel and their bikes spoil fast on the rough diversion.C

What People Are Saying

A commercial driver who plies Iwo Road to Challenge daily told https://tribuneonlineng.com that, "Government work is good, but they should put more officers and make the temporary road better. The dust is too much."

A resident in Basorun said the diversion has now brought traffic into their inside street. "Before, our street was quiet. Now trailers and big buses pass our front because they want to escape Iwo Road traffic. Our street is getting damaged."

OYRTMA officers on ground are trying, but they are few. During rain, the diversion becomes worse because the temporary lane gets flooded.

Practical Advice For Drivers In Ibadan

If you use this road every day, these tips will help you:

• Leave home very early. If you need to be at work by 8am in Dugbe, leave by 6am.

• Use alternative routes. If you are going to Challenge, consider passing through General Gas to Ashi to Bodija instead of Iwo Road.

• Listen to traffic officers. Do not try to force your way through blocked road, you may be fined.

• For public transport users, have extra N200 to N300 for fare increase and be ready to trek small.

• Keep your car fuel topped up. Hold-up can make you burn fuel faster.

In the end, this pain is temporary. When the road is completed, driving from Iwo Road to Ojoo will be faster and flooding will reduce. The Oyo State Government said this project is part of the bigger plan to make Ibadan roads better for everyone.

So for the next few weeks, be patient, plan your movement and share this update with other drivers.