By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Construction of Phase Two of the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension Project is about 96 percent complete, according to the project contractors and Consultants.
They have assured that the works will be completed by the end of September this year and handed over to the Government of Ghana.
This came to the fore when our News Team in the Ashanti region toured the project site to verify the claim by the Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta in his Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament in which he indicated that the project is almost completed.
The second phase of the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension project is a sequel to phase one began by the President John Agyekum Kufuor-led government and completed by its successor.
That phase of the project involved the construction of the Ahmadiyya Roundabout-Coca Cola and Anloga Junction-Asokwa dual carriages with an Interchange at Asokwa.
President Akufo-Addo broke the grounds for Phase Two of the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension Project on February 27, 2019 to be completed within 27 months ending in December 2021.
However, the deadline had to be extended due to some challenges.
This phase of the project is being mainly funded by the AfDB with a counterpart financing by the Government of Ghana.
According to the construction firm executing the project, China Henan International Cooperation Group Limited, CHICO, the entire work involves six scopes or components.
The Consultant Engineer are Zutari Africa Limited and ABP Consultants with the Department of Urban Roads of the Ministry of Roads and Highways as the project Client who conducted the News Team around the project site.
The construction of a link road with both vehicular and foot bridges to connect the erstwhile Jute Factory at Kaase and Atonsu ‘S’-Line as a By-Pass are both 99 percent complete.
The footbridge, which has a rump for physically disabled persons, is to serve both pedestrians and cattle to cross the Susan River from both ends while work was yet to start on the link road itself.
Scope Six of the project which involves the construction and relocation of the lorry station from the frontage of the Kumasi South Hospital at Atonsu Agogo to the Dompoase Junction has already been completed and handed over to the Asokwa Municipal Assembly.
At the time of the tour, only a few motorists complied with the relocation order with less activity.
The Terminal Chairman, Mr. Prince Bonsu, who spoke highly of the poor patronage of the Terminal despite the excellent facilities there, however complained about the seeming lack of enforcement by the contractors and the local Assembly for all the commercial drivers to relocate there.
Re-construction of the three-kilometre Lake Road Coca Cola-Dompoase Junction single lane into a dual carriage is about 93 percent complete with sections at the Ahinsan Bonsuom, ‘S’-Line Junction and former Total Fuel Station at Atonsu remaining.
Provision of Street Lights, grassing of the median and pavement are being done.
Touching on the ‘High School Junction’ which has been identified to be the cause of the perennial heavy congestion along the road, the Asokwa Municipal Director of the Department of Urban Roads, Mr. Samuel Kwame Owusu, outlined plans designed to address the problem.
“The provision we’ve made as far as the design is concerned is that, there’s going to be a signalization at this intersection. There’ll be one at the High School Junction and another one at the ‘S’-Line Junction. The traffic Lights will be able to manage the congestions at these two intersections effectively”, the Municipal Urban Roads Director assured.
On the adoption of unauthorized bus stops by Tro-Tro (local name for intra-city commercial mini bus transport) drivers along the stretch, the Municipal Urban Roads Director gave an assurance that, upon completion of the construction works, all illegal activities along the road will be stopped, while the private terminal established at the erstwhile Unity Oil Filling Station will be dismantled to ensure optimal use of the New Agogo and Dompoase, Junction (all communities in the Asokwa Municipality).
During the tour, it was observed that Scope three of the project, which involves the construction of a 22-metre concrete bridge over the Sisa River at Ahinsan Bonsuom, to replace the existing narrow one, was at an advanced stage, with works vigorously going on.
The Structural Engineer on the project, Mr. Isaac Dadzie, explained to GBCNews what that part of the project entails and how it would contribute to easing the congestion on that portion of the road.
The Engineer emphasized, “We’re now doing the approaches to the bridge. As soon as that one is finished, then we’ll do the asphalt work. Later, the roads will be linked. We’ve simplified it in such a way that, when the Traffic Lights come in, there’ll be no congestion on the road.”
Meanwhile, construction of a storm drain, measuring two kilometres long and 33 metres wide on the Sisa River stretching from Ahinsan to Atonsu ‘S’-Line, is 98 percent complete.
The Consultants told GBCNews that the entire project is scheduled for completion and handing over by the end of next month, September 2022.
The Asokwa Municipal Urban Roads Director, Mr. Samuel Owusu disclosed that seven Traffic Light Signals will be erected on the road upon completion, in addition to road markings and Signs to promote safety.
