Motorists need direction on Tetteh-Quarshie-Apenkwa road

Baring any last minute hitches, the Tetteh Quarshie-Apenkwa motorway extension project, which is being funded by the government of the United States of America through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), will soon be handed over to the government.

The road has been constructed into six lanes, with three lanes on each half.  According to the MCA, the entire project, which extends from the end of the Kwame Nkrumah Motorway to Mallam Junction on the Cape Coast Road would be completed and handed over at the end of next month.

The Chronicle wishes to congratulate the contractors working on the corridor for the quality work they have executed. We, however, want to caution motorists to be extra careful when using the road to avoid fatalities. Already one of the traffic lights installed at the Royale Fiesta Hotel Junction has been damaged by motorists.

If motorists should start knocking down traffic lights that were installed just a little over a week ago, then one would wonder what would happen in the next six months or year after the project has been handed over.

The Chronicle is, therefore, calling on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), and the Department of Urban Roads to institute immediate measures that would protect the lighting facilities that have been provided on the road.

Since the newly constructed road is heavily patronized by trucks transporting goods to and from Tema Harbour, security cameras must be placed at vantage points, especially at intersections controlled by traffic lights, to check motorists who would be causing damage to state property, but would not bother to report to the appropriate authorities for the necessary fines to be imposed on them.

The Chronicle is also calling on the police, especially the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), to post personnel to direct traffic at the Dimples Junction Interchange.

Though the contractor has now opened both sides of the road to traffic, some motorists are not aware of this new development and are still joining the one way traffic from the Apenkwa direction, instead of going over the interchange and join the road from the side.

The MTTU should not sit down for precious lives to be lost before personnel are sent down to the place to direct motorists on the proper use of the ultra modern road.

Since the road is well constructed, any accident that would occur on the road could be fatal, and that is why we are advising the MTTU and the other relevant authorities to adopt time tested measures to ensure smooth usage of the road.

We also urge the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Department of Urban Roads to beautify the outlying lands along the road. We expect these areas to be well grassed to serve as recreational grounds for residents of the city.

If this is not done, the hawkers and car garages would once again take over these outlying areas along the road, resulting in creation of slum settlements and destroying the beauty of the new highway.