President Akufo-Addo being briefed on ongoing works on the Tamale interchange
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Saturday inspected ongoing works on the two-tier Tamale interchange, as part of his two-day tour of the Northern Region.
According to the Director of the Department of Urban Roads, Alhaji Abass Awolu, who took the President on a tour of the project, the interchange, with a total length of one kilometre bridge and ramps, and five kilometres of ancillary road works, is 80 per cent complete.
He said it has 19 spans, out of which 13 spans and the ramps have all been completed, with work currently ongoing on the next six spans.
The completion of the six spans is expected in the next three months, with ancillary works, mainly asphalting, street lighting and road safety works, expected to be completed before the end of 2021.
He assured the President of the completion of the project before the end of the year, saying the contractor, M/S SinoHydro, is using two teams to undertake the works, with one team working from the Dakpema’s Palace section, and the other working from the Bolgatanga road section.
Interchanges
The Tamale interchange is an integral part of comprehensive measures put in place by the Akufo-Addo government to address the issues of congestion in urban centres, and to help improve travel times on major arterial roads.
Other interchanges being constructed include the PTC Roundabout Interchange in Takoradi, the Nungua Interchange, which is part of the La Beach Road Completion Project, the Adjringanor Overpass, where ongoing works will be completed by the first quarter of 2022, and Phase II of the Tema Motorway Interchange.
The Tema Steelworks Road, the only concrete road to be constructed by any government since the Accra-Tema Motorway was constructed, has also been completed. Similar works are also being undertaken within the Tema Industrial enclave.
The Legon/Adjringanor roads, aimed at improving travel times within that corridor, are 52 per cent complete; the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension Project, which includes the dualization of the Lake Road and lining of the Sissai River Drain in Kumasi, is 75 per cent complete; and the Teshie Link Road, popularly referred to as the LEKMA Road, is 90 per cent complete.
Tamale asphaltic overlays
President Akufo-Addo also inspected ongoing works on asphaltic overlays on sections of the road network in Tamale.
The contract, being undertaken by M/S Queroz Galvao Konstruktion, will see the construction of 100 kilometres of roads within the Northern, North East and Savannah regions. Work commenced in March 2021, and is expected to be completed by September 2022.
Also, 18 kilometres out of the 40-kilometre road network in the Tamale metropolis has seen the overlay of asphalt, with construction of the remaining 22 kilometres underway, while 15 kilometres of town roads in Yendi will also have the construction of asphaltic overlays over them.
Tamale-Daboya road
President Akufo-Addo also inspected ongoing works on the upgrading of the 30.2km stretch of the Tamale-Daboya road, specifically the Tali to Daboya, from a gravel surface to a bituminous surface treated road.
The works include earthworks to embank the road in low lying areas; construction of drainage structures to ensure that the road is effectively drained and, therefore, does not fail prematurely; paving and surfacing works.
The contract for implementation of the works was awarded to Messrs Maripoma Enterprise Ltd at the cost of GHȼ119,657,337.41 for completion in 36 calendar months. The work commenced on November 16, 2020 and is scheduled for completion by November 16 2023.
When completed, the project will reduce significantly vehicle operating cost, travel time and accidents. The project, together with the upcoming Daboya bridge project, will significantly reduce travel time between major towns in the Savannah and Northern regions.
It will also improve access to socioeconomic facilities such as markets, schools, clinics, among others, which invariably will translate into higher standard of living of the people living in communities along the project corridor.
