The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has outlined the work plan for reconstruction of the Accra-Tema Motorway.
He said the 19.5 kilometre road, constructed in the 1960s, had outlived its lifespan and needed to be reconstructed.
The government in December 2021 signed a US$570 million contract with South African firm, Mota-Engil, Engenharia e Construção África, SA, for the design and construction of the Accra-Tema Motorway and Extensions Project.
Though work is yet to start, the minister said the challenges that had delayed the commencement of work on the project would be overcome for work to begin “soon”.
“The motorway has to be worked on. It has gone beyond its design life of 50 years. We have gone very far and it will not be long work on the motorway will start,” Mr Amoako-Atta, MP, Atiwa West said.
He made this known when he led officials of agencies under the ministry to
respond to audit queries contained in the Auditor-General’s report for the year 2020.
According to him, the project was a very comprehensive one and would go beyond the reconstruction of the 19-kilometre stretch.
“The reconstruction is not limited to the motorway alone. It goes up to the Achimota overhead and ends at the Neoplan Traffic Light on the Achimota-Nsawam highway.
“It is a major work. The motorway itself is going to have four interchanges at various sections. Some of the lanes will go up to ten-five on either side.
“The reconstruction will also include the remodelling of the Tetteh Quashie interchange to deal with the current traffic situation being experienced there.
“There will be another interchange at Dzorwulu junction and the Achimota interchange will also be remodelled.”
As part of the project, toll plazas and 14 new pedestrian footbridges are to be constructed to ensure safe crossing of pedestrians.
In the meantime, Mr Amoako-Atta said routine maintenance works would continue to be carried out on the motorway.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
