Tetteh Quarshie – Okponglo Road Opens

Engineers of Sonitra inspecting the road project The $50 million Tetteh Quarshie-Okponglo road project awarded to Sonitra Construction Limited is almost complete and expected to be opened to traffic from tomorrow, Wednesday May 20, 2009.

The contract awarded to Sonitra in November 2006 was expected to be completed in 20 months time.

The opening of the road will ease traffic congestion on that stretch of road, ending frustrations of motorists plying the Accra-Tetteh Quarshie, Adenta-Madina and Akropong- Somanya routes.

 Dr. Richard Kwofie, Project Engineer Of Sonitra Company, made this known when the Deputy Minister Of Roads and Highways, Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, AMA boss, Alfred Vanderpuije and the Regional MTTU Boss, ACP Daniel Julius Avorga, inspected the project last Sunday.

 “Traffic has always been heavy on the Tetteh Quarshie- Madina -Adenta area, that is why we have provided a relief to motorists to decongest and reduce the inconvenience of motorists,” he said.

Dr. Kwofie said, “Even though the road construction is complete, it will take about a month for us to install all traffic lights to guide motorists, hence, there is the need for MTTU personnel to come in at peak periods to control traffic”.

Adding his voice to the project, Abass Awolu, Metro Road Engineer, Department of Urban Roads in Accra, indicated that there are three carriage roads to Accra from Legon, Emmanuel Clinic and to Okponglo which can allow motorists to u turn, left turn and right turn.

“But the junction at Shiashie will be closed in the morning for all vehicles coming from Accra-Legon and Lapaz-Legon to pass through Emmanuel to reduce any implications of over speeding since there are no traffic lights now”.

He continued that at 2pm, the Shiashe Junction will then be opened and the road leading to the Accreditation Board will be closed for those going to Accra.

“We have also provided lanes and walkways for bicycle riders and pedestrians respectively,” he added

Touching on the heavy traffic which occurs at the Tetteh Quarshie-Spintex road, leading to the Flower Pot junction, Mr. Awolu indicated that plans are ongoing to create lay byes to reduce the traffic congestion along the road.

“The Game Shopping Mall lane which was initially one has been expanded to two and widened by 4 meters to reduce traffic from the Spintex, in order to give shoppers access to enter the shopping mall.”

The MTTU Commander, ACP Daniel Julius Avorga, expressed police readiness to come in to control vehicular movement till all traffic lights and road signs are installed.

He noted that at least, ten police personnel will be deployed to check traffic management along the area.

“Some of the drivers know the right thing but they continue to do the wrong thing, so the police will make sure that their presence is felt by instilling discipline and caution on our roads”.

The police will also make sure that drivers do not go beyond 50 kilometers per hour, whilst teaching pedestrians to use the walkways to ensure safety.

Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Rojo Mettle-Nunoo , expressed delight of work done so far, observing that, “I'm very much impressed of what they have been able to do within this short period and I'm sure this will be a relief to motorist who use the road”.

 Expressing dismay at the indiscipline nature of   some motorists along the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout, the Deputy Minister noted that there is the need for massive education on the importance of obeying street signs by drivers, adding, “There is the need to also equip the Police MTTU with secret video cameras to capture all drivers who park unlawfully so that they can be fined”.

By Linda Tenyah