For the first time after 58 years, the Accra-Tema Motorway is seeing major renovation works.
The 19.5-kilometre motorway constructed in 1965 by the first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has in the last few years been described by many as a death trap and no longer fit for purpose.
Over the years, a lack of maintenance has led to the deterioration of the Accra-Tema Motorway, with butimen having been used over the years to patch a concrete asphalt road.
The reconstruction and expansion to span three and a half years will see the motorway developed into a ten-lane highway from the initial four lanes. A Ghanaian-owned company has moved to the site.
Currently at the resource mobilization stage, the company is putting up camp sites expected to accommodate batching and asphalt plants, machinery, and offices.
The scope of work of the project includes a 10-lane, four-lane reinforced concrete motorway, and six-lane urban highway to be known as service lanes.
The project also includes the reconstruction of Tetteh Quarshie to Apenkwa, the remodelling of Tetteh Quarshie. Apenkwa, and Achimota interchanges, the construction of five new interchanges, and pedestrian footbridges.
According to the head of the public relations unit, Nasir Ahmad Yartey, it took more than 3 years for the project to take off debunking allegations of wooing electorate with the commencement of the project.
“The decision to expand the motorway was in 2018 but it was fraught with challenges along the way, especially funding. Parliament also had to reject it at a point in time until Ghana Infastructure Investment Fund was sought to lead the financing of the project, so it has nothing to do it elections,” he revealed.
The relocation team has also began mapping out structures to be demolished to pave way for the construction. Once that is done, notice will be given to affected owners who will work within a time frame to do the needful, but if the time elapses and the structures are still existent, the team would have no option than to pull the structures in the way of the project.
However, the Ministry of Roads and Highways says the project has factored in the urbanised nature of the motorway now.
Motorists want the project completed on schedule due to its impact on their daily economic activities.
For now, motorists may have to endure the inconveniences that come with the bad nature of the motorway until its completion in some 3 and a half years.