The outer lane of the Dr Busia Highway leading to the Dansoman Road at the Hansonic Junction in Accra has deteriorated significantly, leaving motorists and pedestrians struggling to navigate the stretch.
A portion of the lane has been severely impacted by stagnant wastewater, solid waste, mud and debris, rendering it virtually impassable.
The situation has forced motorists to concentrate on the inner lane, increasing pressure on the relatively usable portion of the road and worsening the traffic situation at the already busy intersection.
The Daily Graphic has observed large pools of dirty water along the roadside, with refuse and other debris scattered around the drainage channel spilling onto the road.
Sections of the pavement have also broken down, exposing uneven and muddy surfaces that make movement difficult, particularly after rainfall.
Concerns
Taxi drivers operating from the Hansonic bus stop said the deteriorating condition of the road was making their work increasingly difficult, indicating that they had to manoeuvre around the damaged sections and stagnant water to pick up and drop off passengers.
Apart from concerns over frequent visits to the mechanic shops, they said the situation often compelled motorists to use only the inner lane because the outer lane was largely inaccessible.
Some of the drivers expressed concern that continued neglect could worsen the condition of the road and place additional strain on the remaining usable section.
They consequently appealed to the government and relevant authorities to urgently address the drainage and road problems before they deteriorated further.
“From here, go and see the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE). We need help.
They will be the best people to even tell you what’s going on. It’s bad. We can’t keep having things like this.
The situation has even forced us out of where we normally operate into the road that’s supposed to be a bus stop,” one driver said.
They also raised concerns about sanitation and the potential impact of stagnant wastewater on the surrounding environment.
The motorists called for prompt intervention to restore the affected lane and improve drainage to prevent a recurrence.
Related development
The reconstruction of the Kaneshie footbridges has also stalled as the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) waits for a World Bank-supported Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) drainage project.
The AMA Head of Public Affairs and Head of Communications, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, said the ongoing Accra Academy drainage project, which passed through the location of the footbridge, involved the construction of box culverts, channel expansion and a bridge to improve drainage capacity.
He explained that portions of the road would have to be closed during the drainage works, making it impracticable to reconstruct the footbridge before the project would be completed at the affected location.
The bridges were closed after the AMA identified deterioration, including concrete cracking and exposed iron bars, which raised safety concerns for pedestrians, motorists and traders.
Mr Ankrah said the decision to close the footbridge was primarily for safety reasons, adding that the removal of pedestrian and trading activities from the structures had significantly reduced the immediate danger.
“We are appealing to motorists to bear with the inconvenience created by the alternative pedestrian crossing through the median.
The ongoing interventions are ultimately intended to improve conditions for residents and road users,” he said.
