The Ministry of Roads and Highways has announced that the Ofankor-Nsawam route would reopen on Wednesday.
The 33.4 km stretch of scheduled construction on the Accra-Kumasi road network is projected to be completed in two years, in July 2024.
The project, which will cost GH341.48 million, is being funded by the government and will be carried out by Messrs Maripoma Enterprise Limited. According to a project brief made available to the Daily Graphic, the project will involve rebuilding the current asphaltic concrete surface as well as installing lamps, four interchanges, and 11 secure pedestrian crossing facilities.
The road, which is now a two-lane dual carriageway, will be upgraded to a three-lane dual carriageway, according to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), which released the brief Wednesday. Using service lanes. Additionally, it shall have sufficient road markings, traffic signs, and drainage systems.
According to the project brief, the improvement was required to decrease travel time, vehicle operating costs, public transportation wait times, and traffic accidents on that portion of road.
Background
The Ga West Municipal Assembly, Pokuase, Amasaman, Medie, and Sarpeiman are just a few of the villages that depend on the Ofankor-Nsawam portion of National Route Six (N6) as a significant arterial road.
The Ofankor-Nsawam Road covers the northern, central, western, and southern portions of the country, making it one of the most crucial connections in Ghana's network and having a significant impact on the nation's transportation system. The road is also a crucial conduit for transit freight to travel from Ghana's ports to the neighbouring landlocked nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as well as for commerce between Ghana and these nations.
Importance
Despite its significance, that section of the road is littered with depressions, potholes, and drainage issues, which leads to severe traffic congestion there. The government made the decision to upgrade the road to bring it up to code in order to enhance economic activity along the stretch in acknowledgment of the route's significance to economic activities in the nation, according to the brief.
The administration acknowledged the role roads played in the nation's socioeconomic progress, according to the statement. As a consequence, it claimed that the Ministry of Roads and Highways' national transport strategy included goals to develop an integrated, effective, cost-effective, and sustainable transportation system in response to societal requirements, promoting growth and the eradication of poverty.