Govt awaits funds for motorway expansion(Page 31) February 20, 2008

Story: Michael Donkor
THE government is awaiting funds from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) for the expansion of the Motorway from Tetteh-Quarshie roundabout to Mallam-Junction.
That stretch of the road, which is a single lane, is to be reconstructed into a dual carriageway.
President Kufuor cut the sod for work to begin on the project in June 2006 but it has been delayed due to the non availability of funds for the contractors to start.
The project would see the extension of the motorway from the Tetteh-Quarshie interchange through the Achimota overhead and Lapaz to the Mallam Junction highway.
Work on the project is expected to be completed within two years.
Technical designs and the architects masterpiece of the road has been completed.
The expansion of that road is expected to ease the traffic congestion and allow for smooth drive.
Currently heavy traffic is experienced on that stretch of the road throughout the day.
The traffic situation is always very serious on the Achimota and Lapaz stretch of the road and some petty traders have already started encroaching on the side of the road which is to be expanded.
Meanwhile work on the Achimota Lorry Station is 90 per cent complete.
The remaining 10 per cent, which has to do with landscaping and markings, is expected to be completed by the end of March this year.
When completed, commercial vehicles would be relocated from the sides of the main Achimota Road to the new station to allow for smooth flow of traffic on that stretch of the road.