Bus-Rapid Transit project nears completion

Source: Daily Graphic Ghana  -  Construction works on a Bus-Rapid Transit (BRT) project that runs from Amasaman to the Central Business District (CBD) of Accra is near completion. The project which is under the Urban Transport Project is scheduled to be completed in March this year.

The urban transport project was formulated by the government to improve mass transport services on some major road corridors in Accra through a combination of traffic engineering measures that began in September last year. 

The project was jointly financed by the International Development Association (IDA), Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Trust Fund. Alhaji Fuseini, toured the facility last Friday accompanied by the Greater Accra Regional Minister,

Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, and the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Joyce Mogtari. He expressed satisfaction with the extent of work done on the project.

He said a major outcome of the project would be the successful completion of the bus route along the Accra Central business district and the Amasaman route.

According to the Resident Engineer on the project, Mr Kwabena Bempong, the project was divided into two lots.

He said Messrs China Henan International Co-operation Limited, the contactors for Lot 1, was undertaking the project at a cost of GH¢6,748,954, while Messrs Jiangxi Zhongmei Engineering Construction Company Limited was responsible for Lot 2 at a contract sum of GH¢7,637,644.

Mr Bempong said the completed scope of works for Lot 1 included the construction of a bus depot and terminal at Achimota, a terminal building at Amasaman, terminals at Ofankor and Tudu as well as bus shelters and bays.

He said currently, progress of work on Lot 1 was estimated to be 75 per cent complete inclusive of bus shelters, facilities at the Achimota bus depot, fuel storage depot, terminal buildings at Amasaman and Achimota and lay-bys between Ofankor and Amasaman.

He said works on Lot two included the construction of the Amasaman terminal, an exclusive turning lane at Amasaman and the widening and improvement of roads leading to Taifa, road line markings, conversion of Tudu road into a one-lane road and improvement of surfaces of selected junctions on the Kwame Nkrumah and Kojo Thompson avenue roads.

According to the resident engineer, work on Lot 2 was estimated at 90 per cent complete, comprising asphalt works on the access roads leading to Amasaman, road line marking and road signs at Taifa and other junctions along the road corridor. The Amasaman terminal, he said, was also completed.