THE Four-tier Pokuase Interchange HAS BEEN Commission BY Prez Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Friday commissioned the four-tier Pokuase Interchange, a significant highlight of government’s road infrastucture.
The project’s construction commenced in April 2018 and was initially expected to be completed in October 2020.
The completion date was later changed to March 2021. Government explained that the development was due to the outbreak of the Covid-19, which halted its progress.
Government, in May 2021, assured that the project would be completed in the first week of July 2021.
Speaking at the commissioning of the interchange; he noted that, “the completion of the project is an integral part of the comprehensive measures put in place by the government to address issues of congestion in urban centres and to help improve travel times on major arterial roads.”
The Pokuase Interchange infrastructure, the first of its type in West Africa and second largest in Africa, is expected to improve mobility on the busy Accra-Nsawam section of the Accra-Kumasi Highway.
He said the Pokuase Interchange, together with two others, the Obetsebi and Tamale interchanges, were completed at the cost of $289 million.
Estimated at the cost of $94.8 million, the project comprises the five-kilometre Awoshie-Pokuase road, a two-kilometre Accra-Nsawam road, two-kilometre Kwabenya road, and 10 kilometres of local roads to improve traffic flow in parts of Accra.
The interchange at the ACP Junction in the Ga North Municipality was initially three-tier and upgraded to a four-tier facility.
On November 5, 2020, President Akufo-Addo commissioned its first phase.
Work on the project was executed by Messrs Zhongmei Engineering Group Limited of China.
The project was jointly financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government as part of a comprehensive, integrated urban transportation system to improve urban mobility.
President Akufo-Addo stated that there are ongoing works to ensure that major road projects in the country are completed.
President Akufo-Addo, at a colourful ceremony to commission the Interchange, said the completion of the facility was an integral part of comprehensive measures put in place by the Government to address the issues of congestion in urban centres and to help improve travel times on major arterial roads.
He asked the Works and Highways ministries to ensure the proper maintenance of the interchange.
He also appealed to the users of the facility, especially drivers, to adhere to the various safety measures put in place for users of the Interchange.