Easing traffic congestion in Suyani Dept of Urban Roads seeks alternative routes
Sunyani, the quiet regional capital of Brong Ahafo, in the, is gradually becoming a commercial centre witha lot of vehicular movements hitherto unknown to residents of one of the emerging cities in the country.
Traffic congestion, especially at the commercial business centre (CBD), is gradually becoming unbearable with all manner of vehicles struggling to commute through the town to other places such as Techiman, Goaso, Kumasi, Berekum and Kenyasi.
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In the past, traffic posed no problem in the town but as a lot of businesses in Accra and other parts of the country continue to establish their branches within the CBD, it has become very difficult for commuters to reach their offices and homes especially during the rush hour.
Inner ring road
It has, therefore, become necessary for the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) to find alternative routes for vehicles which are passing through the town to other parts of the region and beyond in order to allow for free flow of traffic within the centre of the town.
As one of the well-planned towns in the country, adequate provisions were made to ensure the construction of alternative roads to cater for future traffic challenges within the centre of the town.
Planners of the town included both inner and outer ring roads to ensure that as the town expanded and the number of vehicles increased, there would be alternative routes for those who have no business using the principal streets in the town.
Already, 5.2km of the 14.2km inner ring road has been constructed which has provided the opportunity for vehicles from Berekum and Techiman en route to Kumasi and vice versa to have an alternative route.
The construction of the remaining nine kilometres from the Sunyani Polytechnic roundabout to the Fiapre roundabout is currently ongoing to complete the entire stretch of the inner ring road. The completion of the road has come after almost 20 years since the first stretch was completed in the early 1990s.
What is interesting is that the hitherto single lane road has been widened into a dual carriageway.
Work on the road, which is being carried out by Amo Prempeh Company Limited at the cost of GH¢21 million, began in December 2014 and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
The contractor is currently laying the base, that is, the final gravelling work for the laying of the bitumen surface.
Also ongoing is the laying of the kerbs to create the median in order to separate the road while provisions are being made for stops to pick commuters to and from the business centre.
The entire work is about 70 per cent complete and slightly behind schedule.
But the Regional Maintenance Engineer of the Urban Roads, Mr Ernest Boom, attributed the situation to the modification of the road from a single lane to a dual lane.
He also attributed rainfall and rocks at certain portions of the road as part of the problem which had slightly delayed the project.
The Project Manager, Mr Foster Badu, explained that the company would apply for an extension of the completion period of the projects as a result of the modifications made after the contract was awarded.
Outer ring road
To provide further alternative routes and enhance traffic flow in the town, construction work on the 12.6 km first phase of the 33 km outer ring road has commenced.
Work on the dual carriageway project from the Ideal College point to the Berekum Road is being undertaken by Kofi Job Company Limited at the cost of GH¢31 million.
The contractor began the project in September last year and it is expected to be completed within 18 months.
Four major culverts are currently being constructed to bridge the several water crossing points on the road. Earthworks are ongoing on the entire stretch. The project is about 30 per cent complete.
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Wawasua and Nkrankrom roads
Roads within the Sunyani Municipality which are also receiving attention by the Department of Urban Roads are The Wawasua And Nkrankrom roads.
The Resources Access Limited has been contracted to upgrade the two roads with a total stretch of 14.2 kilometres at the cost of GH¢26 million.
Work on the project which started in December 2014 is currently 60 per cent complete and expected to be completed within 18 months from commencement date.
When the Daily Graphic visited a stretch of the project from Baakoniaba to Wawasua, it was found that the contractor had done the first primer seal while preparation was ongoing for the first seal.
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The upgrading of the Wawasua and Nkrankrom roads is to provide a motorable road for the transportation of foodstuffs to marketing centres.
The use of rickety taxis to convey foodstuffs from the area is now a thing of the past, as roadworthy ones and other vehicles jostle to ply the Wawasua Road.