After years of attempting to complete the Sofoline Interchange in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, it will finally be opened to traffic at the end of September, the Director of Urban Roads, Alhaji Abass Awolu has announced.
The NPP and the ruling government struggled to complete the project which was heavily dependent on the domestic budget for funding.
[contextly_sidebar id=”aEXsghGCrKK0Y0NBFEPrE3NshKXqLlvS”]The interchange is part of a 11km project stretching from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to Abuakwa on the Kumasi-Sunyani road.
According to the Director of Urban Roads, Alhaji Abass Awolu his outfit is currently working on the road markings which would be completed before the road is opened to traffic.
Inspection
Alhaji Awolu made this known when the Roads and Highways Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, visited the project site last Friday on his way back to Accra after he had inspected the Eastern Corridor roads, which took him through the Volta and Northern regions.
The six-lane dualisation project cost GH¢99 million.
The minister was accompanied by the Chief Director of the ministry, Dr D.D. Darko and the heads of the various departments and agencies under the ministry.
Alhaji Awolu said that six kilometres of the road from Bekwai Roundabout to Apatrapa Junction would also be completed and ready for use by the end of the year.
Underpasses
He indicated that there were four pedestrian underpasses along the interchange to ensure that pedestrians moved around the area safely. He explained that the underpasses were necessary considering the fact that the road was six lanes, which would make it difficult for pedestrians to cross.
The Resident Engineer for the project, Mr Ato Baidu Prah, who conducted the minister and his entourage round the project, said the work would be completed and handed over to the government as scheduled.
Mr Prah also said adequate security would be provided for users of the underpasses and named some of the measures as a permanent police post and provision of light for the underpasses.
Alhaji Fuseini expressed his satisfaction with the progress of work and commended the contractors for tactfully handling the challenges that almost delayed the work.
He, nonetheless, reminded the contractors of the need for them to complete the project on schedule, particularly since Kumasi is a very busy city.
He also expressed the hope that the interchange would significantly reduce the heavy traffic associated with the city.
Source: Graphic Online