Kpeshie Lagoon Bridge, a workshop; A 5-year project becomes more dangerous

General News of Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-07-09

A bridge spanning the Kpeshie Lagoon near Accra remains unfinished, more than five years after the diversion of part of the road to allow for repair work.

The concrete bridge overhanging the water was weak, resulting in the decision to build a steel bridge to allow for the rehabilitation of the main bridge.

However, after more than five years, the project is in limbo and poses an additional danger to motorists and other road users, as the deviation created a sharp left turn for traffic coming from the city. end of Accra located on the road connecting Accra to Tema. The current state of the

The bridge, which connects road users from Tema, Nungua, Teshie to La, Osu and Accra's central business district, has become a source of concern for drivers and other motorists who use the route every day.

Context

In 2013, immediate corrective work on the bridge became necessary to ensure the safety of road users. The dilapidated concrete structure has generated cracks and updated rusty iron rods, making it fragile and dangerous to use.

However, the project, which began in November 2013 and was due to be completed in December of the same year, was interrupted after members of the 48th Armed Forces Engineer Regiment of Ghana built a Bailey Bridge in the middle of the Kpeshie Lagoon to allow free movement of traffic, while repair work was carried out on the La Teshie-Nungua section of the bridge.

The Kpeshie Bridge, which was to be rebuilt at the same time as the widening of the 16.1 km La Beach road, has not yet been rebuilt.

The bridge is daily the scene of intense traffic and human traffic, because of its strategic location to connect Accra to Tema.

We are worried

During an interview, some drivers on the road to the beach expressed concern about the government's inability to repair after the construction of the 36-foot Bailey Bridge.

According to them, the first badurances that the repair work would be completed in no time seemed like a mirage, almost five years after the abandonment of the project.

One of the drivers, who named Isaac Bortey, said that even though the Bailey Bridge looked in good shape, he was scared every time he had to use the double-carriageway portion of the road connected to Teshie where is the bridge.

He therefore called on the government to review the project.

Another driver, Mr. Jacob Vanderpuije, who lives in Teshie, also expressed his frustration at the delay of the project.

Mr Vanderpuije, who drives the road at least five times a week, said he was scared every time he approached the bridge.

"I understand that the government has priority projects that it is dealing with, but it is also a priority project to look at, especially because human lives are at stake," he said. he declared.

Urban roads react

When contacted, Mr. Akwasi Nuamah, Deputy Director of the Urban Roads Department, badured the public that the project would be completed soon.

He said the project, which was almost completed, had been interrupted due to lack of funds.

He said that the entrepreneur, China Water and Electric Company, owed money, hence the delay.

He explained that the contractor had collected certificates in process to free up funds to enable him to complete the project.

Road to the beach

Mr. Nuamah further indicated that the 16.1-kilometer Accra-Tema Beach road, which ran from the Ark of Independence and pbaded through the Nungua Barrier to the roundabout. port of Tema, had also been designated for enlargement.

The Deputy Director stated that the expansion processes were well advanced and expressed the hope that the project would begin before the end of the year.

According to Mr. Nuamah, this extension would convert the 16.1 km section into a two-lane highway for the full length.