Work progresses on footbridges on Madina-Aburi (N4) Highway

Work is progressing steadily on the uncompleted footbridges on the Madina/Adentan/Aburi stretch of the N4 Highway in Accra.

When the Daily Graphic visited the area last Monday, contractors were seen busily working into the night.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is expected to visit the area as part of his three-day working tour of the Greater Accra Region this week.

Observations

On the Adentan stretch of the highway, workers of Core Construction Limited were working on the footbridges at the West Africa Senior High School (WASS) and the SDA Junction, while First Sky Limited was also fixing the footbridge near the Ritz Junction.

Another contractor, Facol Roads, was winding up work on the traffic lights at the SDA Junction. Markings on some portions of the road had also been completed.

Even though the traffic lights at the Adentan Barrier and the SDA and the Ritz Junctions were functioning, policemen and some community police assistants were seen at vantage points on the highway directing traffic.

With the President about to inspect progress of work on the footbridges, a group of workers from Zoomlion, a waste management company, was seen busily sweeping and clearing debris along the highway, while some workers of the Adentan and the La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal assemblies were clearing unauthorised structures, posters and billboards illegally sited along the highway.

Attempts to speak to the management of the construction firms and officials of the assemblies proved futile.

Background

Accidents on the Adentan/Madina stretch of the N4 Highway have claimed many lives.

A recent accident occurred on November 2, 2018 when a young lady was knocked down and killed by a speeding vehicle.

About a week later, a student of WASS was also hit and killed under similar circumstances when she attempted crossing the highway.

Both incidents sparked spontaneous riots, leading to the burning of used tyres and the blocking of the road to traffic. The police had to intervene to quell the agitations.

The youth of Madina, Adentan and Pantang later mobilised themselves into a movement, ‘#fixourfootbridegesnow!’ which trended on social media and radio stations to press home the need to complete work on the six footbridges along the highway.

The continuous appeals and agitation by the people subsequently attracted the attention of the Minister of Roads, Mr Kwesi Amoako Atta, who announced resumption of work on the bridges this year.

The President’s visit is, therefore, expected to reassure the people of the government’s commitment to get the bridges fixed.

Writer’s email: [email protected]