Major roads projects, bridges, bypass continue unabated – Finance Minister

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has assured that construction of major roads, bridges and overpasses which are being carried out by the government across the country continues unabated, in spite of the economic woes.

He said all major roads under construction will not cease, adding that government is committed to expanding infrastructural development.

Enumerating some of the major roads during the budget presentation on Thursday, November 24, 2022, the Finance Minister stated that a number of pipeline projects which are at various stages of preparation will be pursued in 2023.

He said construction of the Anyinam Bypass on the Accra-Kumasi road as well as dualisation on the Kasoa–Cape Coast road will continue.

“These include: Construction of Accra – Kumasi Road: Anyinam Bypass;  Construction of Accra – Kumasi Road: Konongo Bypass;  Construction of Adidome – Asikuma Junction and Asutsuare – Aveyime including
2No. interchanges at Dufor Adidome and Asikuma Junction;  Kasoa – Cape Coast Dualisation; Dualization of Sekondi and Adiembra Roads; Takoradi -Agona-Nkwanta- Apemanim, Construction of Bridge over the Volta River at Volivo; Buipe, Yapei and Daboya Bridges; Adawso-Ekyi Amanfrom Bridge; and Dikpe, Iture and Ankobra Bridges,” the Finance Minister said.

The Finance Minister stressed that the main Accra-Tema Motorway stretch will have five lanes each on both sides after its completion.

“Provision has also been made in the 2023 and the Medium-Term Budget for the Equity and Viability Gap Funding required by a GIIF Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to enable the project to start in earnest in 2023. The project will be delivered in phases. Mr. Speaker, the iconic nature of the project is such that when completed, there will be five lanes each on both sides of the main Accra-Tema Motorway stretch,” Mr. Ofori-Atta mentioned in the 2023 budget.

He added that there will be six lanes each on the Tetteh Quarshie – Apenkwa stretch of the road after completion.

“The project will include the remodeling of Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, the reconstruction of the
Apenkwa Interchange and the construction of new interchanges at the Fiesta Royale cross roads and Neoplan area,” he said.

Below are some of the roads the Finance Minister enumerated in the 2023 budget which are under construction:

Works on the La Beach Road Project and the construction of a 3-tier interchange at Nungua Barrier are progressing steadily. Works on the interchange currently stand at 62 percent. Construction of the Kumasi Lake Roads and Drainage Extension project is almost complete and stands at 97 percent.

Work is ongoing on the 17.85 km Ofankor Nsawam dual carriage road which is scheduled to be completed in May 2024. Mr. Speaker, dualisation on the Tema – Aflao and the Tema – Akosombo roads has commenced. Works are ongoing on the rehabilitation of Assin Fosu – Assin Praso road including the dualisation of 1.2km of Assin Fosu township roads into a 4-lane carriageway is at 53 percent. Additionally, works on the reconstruction of Bechem – Techimantia – Akomadan and Agona Nkwanta – Tarkwa roads are at 21 percent and 7 percent completion, respectively.

Works on Phase II of the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle Interchange and ancillary work is at 71 percent completion. Additionally, construction of the Flyover over the AccraTema Motorway from the Flower Pot roundabout is 56 percent complete. Mr. Speaker, to improve connectivity within areas cut off by waterways, work on the construction of 50No. prefabricated bridges continued in 2022.

Progress of the new bridge being constructed over River Pra to separate vehicular traffic from the rail along
the Twifo Praso-Dunkwa road is at 87 percent completion. Mr. Speaker, the Critical Regional and Inter-Regional Road Projects initiated in are at various stages of completion. Completed projects include:
● Upgrading of Wa-Bulenga-Yaala Road
● Upgrading of Salaga – Ekumdipe – Kpandai Road
● Kpandai – Nkanchina Road (10.8km)
● Rehabilitation of Atebubu – Kwame Danso Roads
● Upgrading of Anwiankwanta – Obuasi Road
● Rehabilitation Of New Abirem – Ofoasekuma Road
● Upgrading of Sefwi Wiawso – Akontombra Road
● Upgrading of Akrodie – Sayereso Road
● Rehabilitation of selected roads in Greater Accra.
115. Mr. Speaker, contract works under the Master Project Support Agreement (MPSA)
with Sinohydro Corporation Limited are stages of completion:
● Tamale Interchange Project (100%)
● Western Region and Cape Coast Inner City Roads (100%)
● Upgrading of Selected Feeder Roads in Ashanti and Western Regions
(100%)
● Construction of Hohoe-Jasikan–Dodi-Pepesu (100%)
● PTC Roundabout Interchange Project, Takoradi (60%)
● Sunyani Inner City Roads (63%)
● Kumasi Inner City Roads (10%)