Sofoline traffic congestion to go away
The 10.3 Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital- Abuakwa single lane carriageway corridor of the main Kumasi- Sunyani road, considered to be one of the most congested in the Kumasi Metropolis, in terms of vehicular traffic, has now been redesigned to be reconstructed into an asphaltic concrete surface dual carriageway.
The project, estimated at ¢732 billion, ($80 million) and being executed by a Chinese construction firm - Messrs China Geo Engineering corporation, would begin in June this year.
It would be supervised by ABP Consulting Engineers from Ghana, and among the facilities that would be provided to curb the spate of accidents associated on the road, most of which claim life and property, are bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways..jpg)
According to the Acting Minister of Transportation, Hon. Felix Owusu Agyepong, the reconstruction of the KATH- Abuakwa road would involve five main components, mainly- the widening of the road from KATH to Abuakwa, the construction of an interchange at KATH and Sofoline, as well as the construction of five underpass bridges along the road and the landscaping of the entire road network.
Giving details of the project during the sod cutting ceremony last Saturday in Kumasi at the weekend, Mr Owusu Adjapong pointed out that the widening of the KATH -Abuakwa road would involve the entire 10.3 KATH -Abuakwa road which also links Kumasi to the Brong Ahafo and Western regions.
Ò The section from KATH to Sofoline roundabout which is about 2 kilometres, will be a three lane dual carriageway, with the remaining 8.3 kilometres widened into a two lane dial carriageway, he explained.
Explaining further, he said Ò there will be an interchange at the present Sofoline roundabout. This will ensure free flow of traffic at the location, which is currently one of the traffic bottlenecks in the city.
He said a second two level interchange to control vehicular traffic movement would also be constructed at the present KATH roundabout, while five underpass bridges would be developed at the UCEW K, IPT, Agric College, Apatrapa and South Suntreso junctions to facilitate the smooth flow of vehicular traffic at that section of the Kumasi Metropolis.
The project will ensure that traffic will be separated at these five major junctions which have been traffic bottlenecks, he stressed, adding Ò Traffic from the minor roads will be routed under the Sunyani road through underpass bridges
Stressing further, the Transportation Minister said Ò The project we are launching today will cater for the landscaping of all road medians and selected open spaces abutting the road and within the interchange loops.
He expressed concern about the inadequate infrastructural development, including road network in Kumasi, and pointed out that, the absence of such facilities have undermined the economic development in the metropolis .
He therefore assured that the government would initiate the necessary programmes that would reduce traffic congestion in Kuma.jpg)
si to facilitate the free movement of goods, services and persons
Mr Owusu Adjapong also hinted that apart from the KATH-Abuakwa road, the government would develop the main arterial roads at Antoa, Kampong, Offinso, Barekese, Sunyani, New and Old Bekwai as well as the Lake Road which converge at Kumasi.
These roads are connected by the ring road which serves as the wheel, however, there is lack of fluidity and connectivity in the flow of traffic due to the bottlenecks at some intersections, including those of Oforikrom, Asafo market, Asokwa, Santasi roundabout, Sofoline roundabout and Suame roundaboutÓ, he explained.
Adding he said, there are also some missing links of the road network like that of the Oforikrom-Asokwa-Ahodwo and Sofoline link road, and stated that, the delay in developing the link roads are undermining the smooth flow of vehicular traffic in the metropolis.
He said by providing the requisite infrastructure in Kumasi, the Metropolis would be able to play its role as a modern city which is not only strategically located to enhance business transactions, but also a centre of vibrant economic, cultural, tourist and political activities in the country.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, said the government was committed in developing the road network in Kumasi and would not leave any stone unturned to make the government realise its objective.
He expressed concern about the undue delay of the Asafo interchange, which he said had affected the socio-economic development of the metropolis.
He said unlike the Asafo interchange, the KATH-Abuakwa road would be completed on schedule and urged residents to cooperate with the construction firm executing the project to enhance its early completion.
The project, estimated at ¢732 billion, ($80 million) and being executed by a Chinese construction firm - Messrs China Geo Engineering corporation, would begin in June this year.
It would be supervised by ABP Consulting Engineers from Ghana, and among the facilities that would be provided to curb the spate of accidents associated on the road, most of which claim life and property, are bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways.
According to the Acting Minister of Transportation, Hon. Felix Owusu Agyepong, the reconstruction of the KATH- Abuakwa road would involve five main components, mainly- the widening of the road from KATH to Abuakwa, the construction of an interchange at KATH and Sofoline, as well as the construction of five underpass bridges along the road and the landscaping of the entire road network.Giving details of the project during the sod cutting ceremony last Saturday in Kumasi at the weekend, Mr Owusu Adjapong pointed out that the widening of the KATH -Abuakwa road would involve the entire 10.3 KATH -Abuakwa road which also links Kumasi to the Brong Ahafo and Western regions.
Ò The section from KATH to Sofoline roundabout which is about 2 kilometres, will be a three lane dual carriageway, with the remaining 8.3 kilometres widened into a two lane dial carriageway, he explained.
Explaining further, he said Ò there will be an interchange at the present Sofoline roundabout. This will ensure free flow of traffic at the location, which is currently one of the traffic bottlenecks in the city.
He said a second two level interchange to control vehicular traffic movement would also be constructed at the present KATH roundabout, while five underpass bridges would be developed at the UCEW K, IPT, Agric College, Apatrapa and South Suntreso junctions to facilitate the smooth flow of vehicular traffic at that section of the Kumasi Metropolis.The project will ensure that traffic will be separated at these five major junctions which have been traffic bottlenecks, he stressed, adding Ò Traffic from the minor roads will be routed under the Sunyani road through underpass bridges
Stressing further, the Transportation Minister said Ò The project we are launching today will cater for the landscaping of all road medians and selected open spaces abutting the road and within the interchange loops.
He expressed concern about the inadequate infrastructural development, including road network in Kumasi, and pointed out that, the absence of such facilities have undermined the economic development in the metropolis .
He therefore assured that the government would initiate the necessary programmes that would reduce traffic congestion in Kuma
si to facilitate the free movement of goods, services and personsMr Owusu Adjapong also hinted that apart from the KATH-Abuakwa road, the government would develop the main arterial roads at Antoa, Kampong, Offinso, Barekese, Sunyani, New and Old Bekwai as well as the Lake Road which converge at Kumasi.
These roads are connected by the ring road which serves as the wheel, however, there is lack of fluidity and connectivity in the flow of traffic due to the bottlenecks at some intersections, including those of Oforikrom, Asafo market, Asokwa, Santasi roundabout, Sofoline roundabout and Suame roundaboutÓ, he explained.
Adding he said, there are also some missing links of the road network like that of the Oforikrom-Asokwa-Ahodwo and Sofoline link road, and stated that, the delay in developing the link roads are undermining the smooth flow of vehicular traffic in the metropolis.
He said by providing the requisite infrastructure in Kumasi, the Metropolis would be able to play its role as a modern city which is not only strategically located to enhance business transactions, but also a centre of vibrant economic, cultural, tourist and political activities in the country.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, said the government was committed in developing the road network in Kumasi and would not leave any stone unturned to make the government realise its objective.
He expressed concern about the undue delay of the Asafo interchange, which he said had affected the socio-economic development of the metropolis.He said unlike the Asafo interchange, the KATH-Abuakwa road would be completed on schedule and urged residents to cooperate with the construction firm executing the project to enhance its early completion.
No comments:
Post a Comment