The Ministry of Roads and Highways has revealed that most roads across the country are undergoing maintenance works, or have been awarded for rehabilitation and extension.
Work on some of the roads according to the Ministry have slowed down due to financial and weather challenges.
The Deputy sector Minister, Isaac Adjei Mensah gave the assurance that “the contractors will energize the activities on these roads.”
Some listeners of the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday complained about the deplorable state of their roads.
A caller, Kofi said the Koforidua-Asokore to Bunso junction road which links Koforidua to Kumasi has deteriorated to the extent that “by the time you get to Kumasi, your waist will be aching. There are pot-holes, there are manholes and the roads are generally bad.”
Another caller also known as Kofi stated that “in Kasoa, apart from the main road from Mallam junction through Kasoa to Buduburam to Cape Coast, there is no proper road in Kasoa. From Kasoa traffic light to the new market, the road is not in good state. From the traffic light to Nyanyano, it is not in good state…the rest of the community is just there.”
According to him, the rainy season is worsening the situation for residents and motorists “because we cannot move from our houses.
In the Eastern Region, the roads in the Atiwa District especially, the Kwabeng is said to be immortorable.
A texter, Ransford Oppong said: “Try the Zenith College- Trade Fair road, you will clap for your car if you are able to ply it even once.”
Another also opined that roads are deteriorating across the country because “the pothole patching has a compulsory expiry date that’s why they keep awarding them.
The orphan crescent road in Labone also came up for mention. The road from Sakumono estate junction to Klagon is reportedly filled with manholes.
Other roads which were cited include the Sakumono to Ashiaman road, the road linking Nungua barrier to the beach road, the Nkawkaw road, the Gbawe-Buleme road.
Reacting to these complaints, the deputy Minister disclosed that there are maintenance works being undertaken on the Tema Motorway to patch potholes “and this time, it is not the ordinary bitumen, it is asphalt pothole patching on that stretch.”
The contractor undertaken the project has been ordered to do the work at night so as not to cause any inconvenience to motorists.
Work has been activated on the Saint John’s junction road to Dome Township.
Roads in Saabo Zongo, Mamprobi, Madina Estates, East Legon, La and the road behind the Trade Fair “are all experiencing some activities all in line with maintenance of our roads in making sure that we will bring al the roads up to speed.”
He added that pothole patching is being undertaken “around the Kaneshie heading towards Accra Academy.”
Giving updates on the Nsawam Suhum Road, Mr. Mensah indicated that “there has been some stoppage on that stretch…that stretch which has some challenges now will soon be activated and infact, the contractor has stopped work for non-payment but some maintenance works are still planned.”
He said he is hopeful that the contractor will resume in the shortest possible time.
Regarding the Asamankese road in Eastern Region, he revealed that they are on contract “but due to some financial constraints and non-payment for some of them, they have slowed down a bit.”
He promised that the challenges will be resolved to ensure the road is completed on time since the rainy season has began.
But he was quick to add it is difficult constructing roads during the rainy season but government is collaborating with contractors to put in place measures to minimize the difficulties motorists experience when using such roads.
Mr. Mensah mentioned that road networks cannot be put on pothole patching always and “that is why we have a scheme and a plan to bring them up to speed on a long term solution.”
He however discounted claims that almost all road networks across the country are in bad shape saying, “I wouldn’t agree with that” explaining that “when you construct roads, they wouldn’t be the same for a very long time. There will be problems and that is why we maintain them.”
Addressing some of the complaints of listeners, the Director for Urban Roads, Alhaji Abass Awolu said some rehabilitation works have commenced on the Dadeban road in the Industrail area.
“We are doing some drainage works and we expect the drainage works to be completed soon…” and once the construction of the drains are completed, the road will be fixed.
According to him, the drainage system on the road from the old Melcom junction through Fanmilk coming towards the New Time Corporation intersection is almost completed.
The existing surface of the roads in these areas will be reinforced because “we have a lot of soft spots in there and those soft spots will be treated.”
He noted that because that area is for industries, heavy duty vehicles ply those roads “so we are looking at strengthening the pavements to be able to carry the load.”
Alhaji Alowu indicated that because it’s an industrial area, his outfit will hold discussions with the Ghana Highway Authority so that they can fix mobile axil weighing points along the corridor to ensure the longevity of the roads.
He blamed the delay on the current weather conditions.
When the rehabilitation works on the Dadeban road is completed, it will be linked to the Abotia road in front of the Latex Foam which connects the Dadeban road to the Otublohum.
The Urban Roads Department is liaising with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to prevent vehicles from parking on the shoulders of the Otublohum road to enforce the basic traffic regulations when the road works are done.
On the Ashiaman-Lashibi main road, Alhaji Alowu remarked that the rehabilitation of the road has been awarded to a contractor who will work “up to the underpass that connects into Lashibi.”
The road linking the Tema Motorway roundabout to Ashiaman is being dualized.
Another contractor is also working on the Nungua Barrier towards Lashibi through Sakumono and Vivian Farms.
A 20-meter span bridge will be constructed “just before the SSNIT estates. We have instructed the contractor that as we are doing this work, the other carriage way, the riding quality is very poor and we have instructed the contractor to maintain the road as he works.”
In relation to the Tema Oil Refinery road in Tema, the Urban Roads Director indicated that a new access route would have to be created between the Tema New Town into the TOR area.
“We have liaised with the MP [Member of Parliament] and the Ministry so that we can have some discussion…” he said.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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