Falling rocks project on Aburi Hills behind schedule
With less than two months to the end of the contract to construct a wire mesh to control the falling rocks along the Ayi Mensah-Peduase Lodge-Aburi road, the contractor has now submitted the design to officially commence work.
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Since the commencement of work on January 15, 2016, the contractor, CST Ltd, has done only 26 per cent of work as of November 30, 2016, even though it is expected to complete the work by January 2017.
Work done so far included the mobilisation of materials, plant and equipment, key personnel, as well as the clearing of the project site.
At the site
A visit to the site revealed that a little of the real protection of the fallen rocks had actually been done, even though that was done without recourse to any design.
The significant thing prominent on top of the rocks are the massive structures springing up, which some experts say could have repercussions for the safety of the road.
Nature of work
The four-kilometre project titled, “slope repairs and protection of the Ayi Mensah-Peduase Lodge-Aburi Road”, is a design and build contract, where the contractor is expected to design, based on the topographic and geotechnical studies, and to adopt an engineering measure to protect the slopes against any immediate failure.
The contractor is in a partnership with Artusa Ltd of Turkey, a company reputed for its experience in the protection of falling rocks.
Valued at about GH¢12 million, the project includes putting a steel mesh over the slope to be held by anchor bolts, to be followed by a second mesh, a high tensile steel mesh.
“With that they believe that it can hold falling rocks and try and protect the slope safely,” the Resident Engineer, Mr Senyo Koku Matrevi, told the Daily Graphic.
Submission of designs
Asked what design the contractor had followed in starting the work before submitting its designs, he explained that the contractor was using an earlier proposal which was rejected, stressing that, “We told them in clear terms that the work had not been approved, so they did that at their own risk.”
He, however, said “fortunately, the calculations they showed us today shows that, that is the same type of mesh that will be used,” explaining that the addition was the inclusion of a check fence which the contractor had to add to what it had already done.
Mr Matrevi said the contractor submitted the designs last Wednesday, which was accepted and was hopeful that they would fast track the work, adding, “according to the experts when the mesh is ready, putting it on is not a difficult task.”
Portions of the project towards the Ayi Mensah end of the Accra Aburi road that has been completed
Extension & variation
As to whether the contractor would require an extension of time, he said the contractor would submit a revised programme, “and we will evaluate it and then advise the ministry accordingly.”
Referring to cost variation, Mr Matrevi said since the project was ‘design and build,’ ordinarily there was not supposed to be any change, adding that if there would be any change, it would be referred to the sector ministry.
He said the slow progress of work was an issue of serious concern not only to the supervising agency, but the ministry, explaining that aside from the normal site meeting, “we have met mor than five times to discuss this issue.”
Users of the road
Mr Matrevi apologised to the motoring and travelling public of any inconveniences the project might cause and assured that even if there would be an extension, it would not be too much, “But it is all about the safety of the travelling public.”
He acknowledged the inconvenience the project was causing to the travelling public, but conceded that it was mostly on Saturdays because of the number of keep fit clubs that met there to exercise.