Construction of Kasoa interchange takes off
Construction work on the $160-million interchange at Kasoa, which is expected to ease the worsening gridlock in and around that part of the Central Region, has started.
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It is set for completion by November 2016.
Workers of the Brazilian firm, Queiroz Galvao, commenced excavation work on two of the seven piers needed for the foundation of the interchange at the main Kasoa traffic lights last week.
The Director of Urban Roads, Mr Abass Awolu, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, however, explained that aspects of the work started about two months ago on the bridge across the Okrudu stream.
Queiroz Galvao will construct a 270-metre interchange at Kasoa, two overpasses on the main Kasoa-Winneba road, the 33-kilometre Kasoa-Obom-Amasaman road and 20 kilometres of road in the Ga South Municipality and Kasoa.
Mobility
Under the project, there will be various bridges along the main Kasoa-Winneba road to improve movement within the communities.
The first bridge is located around the Iron City area to connect commuters from Iron city and Amanfrom. This will allow commuters to make direct access between the two communities without the U-Turns on the main road.
The third bridge will be sited around the Universal Service Station area to connect motorists from the Awutu-Senya Municipality to the CP area.
Additionally, the contractor is expected to widen the road between the Kasoa traffic light and the CP area.
The contractor, according to Mr Awolu, had also started foundation works on a concrete 36-metre span bridge across the Densu River which had a Bailey bridge but which collapsed about two weeks ago.
Across the Okrudu River, another bridge would be constructed to link Iron City to Kasoa Zongo, he said.
“One abutment is almost completed and we have started the second abutment. We expect that once these projects are completed, motorists will have alternatives to ease the congestion in that area,” Mr Awolu stated.
Accessibility
He said currently, because the Okrudu River acted as a natural barrier, strategic culverts/bridges would be provided to help motorists to traverse communities in Ga South and Kasoa, without moving onto the main road, a practice which, apart from not being safe, was also a major contributory factor to the gridlock on the main Kasoa Highway.
He said an additional overpass at Galilea, near Amanfrom in Ga South, and CP at Awutu-Senya in the Central Region would be constructed to further improve connections and eliminate unnecessary U-turns for motorists moving from Galilea to Amanfrom and from CP to Opeikuma.
Under the project, two terminals will be constructed — the BRT terminal around the Kasoa traffic lights and one at the Sheep Market on the Obom road.
Meanwhile, Mr Awolu said the DUR was also discussing with the Awutu-Senya Municipal Assembly to identify potential terminals to be developed to replace the current ones dotted along the shoulders of roads at the Kasoa intersection.
He said some local contractors would be engaged for the other ancillary works, such as schools, a polyclinic and boreholes which were all part of the project.