Improved road network in Sekondi-Takoradi
The travelling public in Sekondi-Takoradi will heave a sigh of relief when ongoing road rehabilitation works on major road linkages in the twin city are completed.
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The roads which were once upon a time in very deplorable conditions are being given a facelift befitting the status of the city as an oil hub.
The first phase of the rehabilitation works which involved an overlay of asphalt on more than 20 kilometres was estimated to have cost about GH¢19.6 million. The second phase of 25 kilometres has begun and is expected to cost about GH¢25 million.
An additional 8.5 km dual carriage with median from the Kansawurodu bypass to the Takoradi town centre is also progressing steadily.
Oil discovery
Since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities by Kosmos Energy in June 2007, the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis has attracted attention from the business community.
Hitherto, the twin-city had lost its buoyancy following the collapse of big timber, cocoa, oil palm and other industrial firms. Now the city is filled with many businesses, from financial institutions to commercial enterprises and haulage services.
The clamour
At present, motorists use the only two major asphalted roads in the city that lead to the central business district. There is the main road through Essipon to Sekondi/Takoradi and the Accra road which runs through Effiakuma to the Takoradi town centre.
Owing to the bad nature of a number of link roads in the twin city, not excluding the Kansawurodu bypass, motorists from Sekondi, Fijai, Essikadu Ketan, Effiakuma and Kwesimintsim, West and East Tanokrom, Anaji, Adiembra, Mpintsin, Kansawurodu, Anaji Namibia, Apollo and Apremdo heading to Takoradi and travelling to Nzema and the northern part of the region have all shifted focus onto the asphalted roads.
The improvement in conditions in the city has brought about an increase in human and vehicular traffic in addition to an upsurge in commercial activities but without a corresponding increase in social infrastructure.
The demands & rage
Residents and businesses in the central business district of Sekondi-Takoradi and areas such as Kokompe and other parts of the metropolis have since 2007 expressed worry over the road networks in the city.
In fact, the road conditions worsened following the discovery of oil in the Western Region, because more vehicles, including long haulage trucks with very heavy loads, started plying the already bad roads which led to their quick deterioration.
At a point, commercial vehicles increased transport fares because they suffered frequent breakdowns because of large potholes.
The promise
The President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, on a “Thank you” tour of the Western Region in 2014, promised the chiefs of the Western Region that roads in the region would be improved.
“Sekondi-Takoradi is fast becoming the oil city of the country, and we will rehabilitate and upgrade many of the roads with asphaltic surface,” he said.
The reality
Today, roads in the city have seen significant improvement, thus making it possible for people to drive with pleasure.
Road users in the twin city whom the Daily Graphic have spoken to are happy that roads in the metropolis are receiving the needed attention.
The oil city
It is obvious that the improved road network in Sekondi-Takoradi, coupled with vibrant activities along the oil value chain, has led to a business revival in the metropolis.
The road restoration proces is currently in its first phase and covers areas from the Kwame Nkrumah Roundabout in Takoradi to the Kwesimintsim traffic lights and onwards to the T-Poly Traffic Light.
So far, link roads connecting Number 9 to the SSNIT-Flats though to the CK-Mann Road to West Line leading on to Tadisco Down toward Pipe-Ano Traffic Light to Effiakuma and in the direction towards I-Adu and Lagos-Town have been completed.
In addition, almost all bad roads in the central business district, stretching from Mankessim White House toward Shippers Roundabout to Kokompe and the Beach Road, have been redone and asphalted.
Drivers
A number of commercial drivers, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, have expressed their joy about the situation.
Baba Ali, a commercial driver in Takoradi, said the project had helped to reduce the number of visits he made to the workshop.
“On one occasion when the road was bad, my taxi fell into a pothole and had the wheel detached. I had to spend a whole day at the workshop to have it fixed,” he stated.
Phase two
The second phase of the road refurbishment process involves remodelling 25 kilometres of road estimated to cost about GH¢25 million. Work on the project, beginning from Kwesimintsim Zongo to Kwesimintsim Town-Cape Coast Road and linking the Kumasi Station to the Kintampo Road and to Kinston Avenue, has already begun.
Other areas expected to receive treatment are the Amonoo Street and Sekondi Taxi Station, Abraham Street, Ashanti and Allula roads. The Ahanta and Ferguson roads are also included in the project.
In Sekondi, the road project will cover Gyandu through Poase and the 5th-Street to the Sekondi High Street.
The Public Relations Officer of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr John Last, said with expansion works going on at the Takoradi Harbour, plans were advanced to improve the road leading to the port in order to make it easy for haulage trucks to have access to the seaport.
He added that there was also a programme to rehabilitate the road from Sekondi College Junction through Essipon, Ngyeresia, Sekondi Nkotompo to the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital.