Sofoline Interchange nears completion, eases traffic flow

The construction of Ghana's biggest interchange at Sofoline in Kumasi may have suffered delays, but the project has not only eased traffic to a great extent in that part of the city but also positively changed the face of the Garden City.

The interchange, which forms part of the reconstruction of the Sunyani road through Kumasi, is now about 92 per cent complete and has partially been opened to traffic, thereby reducing the congestion associated with that part of Kumasi, which connects to Obuasi, Sunyani and the city centre.

The road, one of the most congested in Kumasi, is undergoing dualisation and asphalting.

According to the resident engineer of the project, Mr Ato Badu Prah, work left to be done on the interchange included street lighting, road marking, fixing of road signs and horticultural works, which would be completed by the end of the year.

He told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that the  government was showing commitment to finance the entire road project and expressed the hope that it would be completed in a year's time.

The road project has been divided into three parts — the section from Abuakwa to the Apatrapa Junction; the Apatrapa Junction to the Bekwai Roundabout and the Bekwai Roundabout to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Roundabout, where an underpass will be constructed.

Currently, most of the completed work is found on the  six-kilometre Apatrapa Junction-Bekwai Roundabout portion, where the Sofoline Interchange is located.

The explanation is that much of the compensation to property owners relating to the reconstruction has been settled within that corridor.

Mr Prah said the government had allocated some funds for the payment of compensation on properties to be affected on the Abuakwa-Apatrapa Junction corridor and payments would be effected in July 2013.

'When this is done, we will proceed with work in full force and  hopefully this part of the road will be fully opened to traffic before the end of the year,' he said.

Even before that was done, he said, some minor works were underway in that area to prepare the ground for full-scale reconstruction works.

With regard to the third portion of the road project from the Bekwai Roundabout to the KATH Roundabout, a stakeholders' meeting would be held in Kumasi early next month to discuss pertinent issues relating to the take-off of work later in the month.

The Sofoline Interchange-Abuakwa road project, which is being undertaken by China Geo Construction Limited, a Chinese firm, spans 11 kilometres of six-lane asphaltic concrete dual carriageway.

The wholly government-financed project, which started in August 2007, was initially estimated to cost GH¢73 million, with a constructional period of 36 months, but the delays had resulted in the contract sum being revised upwards to GHc99.9 million.

Improving the road will also have a positive impact on economic activities in the areas along the road.

By improving the efficiency of commercial transportation in the area, improved accessibility will create jobs and promote growth.

Indeed, traffic congestion on the Sofoline-Abuakwa road before the construction of the Sunyani road was a nightmare.

It was a single lane and at peak periods, it took a vehicle two hours to traverse the 10-km road.

Vehicles travelling to the Sefwi area of the Western Region and to parts of the Brong Ahafo Region, particularly Sunyani and Goaso, use that road.

As the condition of the road deteriorated by the day, it came as a huge relief when the Kufuor government decided to reconstruct the road, using internally generated funds.

The construction period naturally worsened the traffic situation, but gradually, things started improving.

Now, driving on the interchange is as smooth as one can have it, even though all the works have not been completed.

The dualisation of the road from Sofoline to Asuoyeboa has almost been completed and this has consequently ensured improved traffic flow.

By Kwame Asare-Boadu