The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said that if Ghanaians needed a reason to vote for him again, his commencing the construction of over five interchanges in his first term must be one.
According to the President, it was unprecedented in the history of the nation for a government to undertake such a number of projects in its first term.
“This is the first time in our nation’s history that more than five interchanges are being constructed within the first term of any government. So, if there is any reason to give Nana four more to do more for you, this is one of them,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
President Akufo-Addo observed that currently, the following interchanges are under construction; “Pokuase interchange, which is the first four-tier interchange in West Africa, is 85% complete and [a] section of it will be opened to traffic this very week; Tamale interchange, which is the first interchange in Northern Ghana, is 54% complete and is on course to be completed by the first quarter of 2012; PTC roundabout interchange in Takoradi, which is the first interchange in the Western part of the country, is progressing steadily; Nungua interchange, which is part of the La Beach road completion project, is also progressing steadily, and Tema motorway interchange phase one, which has been completed and is already in use by motorists with work on the second phase of the interchange starting soon.”
The President stressed that his government was committed to addressing traffic congestion in the country, especially in the capital, Accra, as well as all other major cities in the country.
The President was speaking yesterday at a ceremony to commission phase one of the Obetsebi-Lamptey interchange at Abossey Okai in the Ablekuma Central Constituency. This was Day One of his two-day campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region, ahead of the 7th December 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.
He said: “The completion of phase one will enable the contractor to begin work on phase two immediately after this commissioning ceremony. Today’s event is further testimony of government’s determination to the issue. The completion of phase one of the Obetsebi-Lamptey interchange shows the seriousness that my government attaches towards addressing the congestion in some of the major cities of our country,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Phase two of the project is to commence immediately following the completion of phase one, which was finished five months ahead of schedule.
President Akufo-Addo urged road users, traders and residents of the Ablekuma Central Constituency and, indeed, all road users in the region, to bear with the contractors to ensure that the next phase is also completed.
Project Background
The Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle is a key intersection of the arterial road network in Accra. It is part of the Ring Road system and located at the intersection of four major arterials – the Kaneshie Mallam Road (Dr. Kofi Busia Highway), Ring Road West, Ring Road West Extension, and the Graphic Road.
As part of the Ministry of Roads and Highways’ strategies to address urban congestion, there are programmes by the Department of Urban Roads to upgrade congested intersections into grade separated ones (interchanges) in all the major cities throughout the country.
Under this programme, the Obetsebi-Lamptey Roundabout is to be developed into a three-tier interchange to reduce congestion being experienced by commuters. This was also necessitated by the huge vehicular volumes approaching the roundabout due to the construction of the Ring Road flyover.
The project commenced in October 2019 with a sod-cutting ceremony for completion in 18 calendar months. The works have been completed five months ahead of schedule. Phase I involved the construction of a 550 metres viaduct and ramps between the Graphic Road and Dr. Busia Highway (Kaneshie Mallam Road). Under the project, a 2 No. (5.5 x 2)m box culvert across the Graphic Road, and storm drain of similar size, was constructed up to the Ring Road West carriageway. This storm drain shall be continued up to Mpamprom Junction under Phase II of the project. The storm drainage system is to help address the flooding challenges being experienced at the Obetsebi-Lamptey area.
Also under the Phase II, the 3rd tier of the interchange, which would be on the Ring Road West (Awudome to Central Mosque at Abbosey Okai), would be constructed. Phase 1 of the project was executed by Messrs QGMI Constructiones E Infrastructuras Globales S.L.U, with Messrs FAS Consult Limited as the engineer’s representative.
Phase II of the project would commence almost immediately.
The post 5 interchanges in 4 years: I deserve 4 more -Akufo-Addo appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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