Kumasi-Ejisu highway ‘problematic’ roundabouts to be removed
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has directed the removal of all the four roundabouts on the Ejisu-Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) highway in Kumasi.
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The directive, he said, was to halt the increasing accidents and gridlocks caused by the roundabouts on that stretch of the road.
Speaking to journalists after touring some roads in Kumasi on Tuesday, he explained that the reasons for constructing the roundabouts in 2007 as part of the N6 had been defeated and it was time they gave way for “signalised intersections”.
Roads inspection
The minister, who is in the Ashanti Region as part of a two-day duty tour to inspect roads, had earlier inspected delayed works on the Sofoline Interchange, Bekwai Roundabout and the drainage at Abrepo Junction in the capital, Kumasi.
Mr Amoako-Atta was accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, and regional directors of Highways, Urban Roads and Feeder Roads.
He said the decision was taken after an “engineering review” the ministry commissioned.
The four roundabouts are dotted at the Ejisu, Oduom, Boadi Junction and KNUST junction and since their construction a decade ago, they have been a source of worry and inconvenience for both motorists and pedestrians.
They have caused severe traffic congestions and accidents, especially as articulated trucks attempt to negotiate the roundabouts.
Cobalt stones
Mr Amoako-Atta said the roundabouts were constructed and fixed with cobalt stones that could be driven on but most drivers refused to drive on the stones and used just the asphalted portions, leading to the narrowing of the roundabout.
He explained that several explanations and information to drivers about the need to drive on the cobalt stones had failed to yield the needed response.
“The cobalt stones were done for good reasons — safety purposes — but at the moment the facility has outlived its usefulness and the engineering review has proven that they can be removed,” he added.
Sofoline
At the Sofoline interchange, the minister assured the Chinese construction firm, Geo Construction Engineering Corporation, that they would receive funds to complete works on the project which had stalled for over four years.
The minister gave an assurance when the Resident Engineer for the project, Mr Kwaku Boampong, complained to the minister about the lack of funds to complete the project.
Mr Boampong gave an assurance that the original road plan would be maintained, saying the construction work had reached Apatrapa and that all landlords affected by the project had been compensated.