The project costing 256 million Euros and being undertaken by INZAG-GERMANY is expected to be completed in 30 months.

Construction workers clearing site for the start of the road project

It involved the construction of seven km road with three lanes on each side from Ashaimanroundabout to Gbetsile, with service roads and another 14km of three lanes from Gbetsileto Afienya. In addition, extra two lanes would be constructed from Afienya to the Kpong stretch as well as the Kpong to Atimpoku which would have two more laneson each side.

The project would also see the construction of two composite steel bridges to link Asutsuare, Volivo and Asikuma with an interchange at Kpong to link other adjoining communities.

Ninepedestrian footbridges would also be constructed at Ashaiman, Seprebo, Kakasunaka, Gbetsile, Odumase -Krobo, Kpong, Senchi and Atimpoku.

The consultant to the projectMrKwabenaBempong made these known when the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta paid a working visit to the project site on Wednesday near the Shai Hills.

He was accompanied by officials of the Ministry and agencies under his supervision.

According to Mr Bempong, the contractor is currently working on site preparations which are the clearing of the portions that would have the new lanes after which the main dual carriage would be tackled.

He said they were also putting up offices and accommodation facilities for the workers so as to speed up works.

The consultant said all the geo-technical survey works have been sorted out and assured that the project would be completed ahead of schedule.

Mr Amoako-Atta after the briefing commended the contractor for recruiting about 70 percent of its work force within the area and the young women as heavy duty truck drivers.

The road which he said formed part of the Eastern corridor road Lot 1 upgrading was dear to the heart of government as it has a lot of settlements and sensitive security sites and installation as such must be properly executed to stand the test of time.

Mr Amoako-Atta indicated that the government’s dualisation agenda was on course and expressed optimism that all projects on the agenda would be completed by September 2024.

The Minister who also inspected progress of work on the 17 km Tema Roundabout-Miotsoroad project expressed his disappointment at the slow pace of work after he was told the delay in the payment of compensation to persons affected by the project was one of the causes seriously hampering progress of work.

According to the contractors the relocation of utilities, the challenges posed by the Bulk Oil Transport facilities,the payment of proposed compensation to affected persons who are threatening the project and  the delay in the interim payments of approvals in the sum of 11 million dollars and the threat of some individuals refusing to allow their frontages to be graded.

But the Minister after being told a business man TT Brothers wasallegedly demanding compensation from government before his trees on road reservation could be cut to pave way for progress of work directed Chief Director of the Ministry to delve into the matter and submit reports in a week’s time.

According to him no single individual would be allowed to interfere in the project because the suffering of the people must be addressed.

Mr Amoako-Atta urged the contractor to work day and night to make up for the lost time.