The Asikuma portion of the much talked-about Eastern Corridor road has started developing some potholes and in some cases, craters.
To this end, the contractor, GS International Developers from China, has begun repair works to correct the defects on portions of the road under the direction and supervision of the Ghana Highways Authority.
The defects, which could be seen on several spots of the road between Aum Junction and Peki-Tsibu stretch, have made road users and residents question the quality of work executed by the Chinese contractors.
A drive on the road by Daily Guide revealed that other portions of the road had developed death traps, particularly at Anum junction and Peki-Dzake.
At the places where the craters and the potholes could be seen, Daily Guide also observed that the bitumen was flaky hence, the disintegration.
More so, the asphalt layer also appeared to be tearing apart.
Last Tuesday when Daily Guide visited the stretch, the contractors were seen working assiduously to correct the defects.
According to sources, instead of the contractors scooping the affected spots and reconstruct them, they were rather patching them, which might not last long.
The craters were said to have developed less than a month a month after President John Mahama had visited the site as the Chinese contractors reportedly rushed through the job because of the intended visit of the president.
According to insider sources, instead of three overlays before compressing the surface of the road, the contractors did only one and compressed it, which has started developing the cracks in less than two months of the president’s visit.
The Asikuma to have section of the Eastern Corridor road is a Ghana government funded project which stretches along 45 kilometers. Works on the road began in December, 2011, after several years of unfulfilled promises of its commencement. It was expected to be completed in December 2013, yet the project is far from completion, five years after its commencement.
Mahama’s visit
In March this year, the president and a team of government officials and other appointees inspected the road. Ahead of the visit, the contractors were seen busily leveling and asphalting it. After the visit the president commended the contractors for a ‘good work done.’
However, two months later the road has started showing some worrying defects.
So far, the single carriage road has been given the first asphalt layer which started in 2014 from the Anum junction to Tsibu.
However, the road was opened to traffic earlier this year as part of measures to reduce travel time, as vehicles had to go through Anyrawase to Kpeve for those going to Gemane, Kpalime, in South Dayi and Kpando in North Dayi, Hohoe and beyond. Some travellers to Hohoe and beyond also used the Ho-Fume road which is substantially completed.
Construction process
Speaking with the resident engineer of the project, Abu Mohammed confirmed the defects on the road saying “we are aware. We have detected some challenges in the road construction. They are not necessarily potholes but a combination of defects. We can say they are failings on the road.”
Mr. Mohammed, who is also a Principal Engineer at the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), noted that the defects on the road were as a result of the inconsistent thickness of the first asphalt layer applied on it.
He said the nature of the defects indicated that certain portions of the road had less than the 6cm thickness – some having, 5, 5 and 3cm thickness.
He could not tell whether it was intentional on the part of the contractors or not, but was happy that the temporary opening of the road to traffic and the rains had exposed the failings.
Company’s explanation
A supervisor of the company, who gave his name as Lee, speaking through a Ghanaian interpreter, said that the defects were not any big deal and that all the areas affected would be rectified. More so, the road is not yet completed and that another layer of asphalt of 5cm would be applied to ensure durability.
–
Source: Daily Guide