The Kaneshie-Mallam Road, popularly known as the K. A. Busia Highway in Accra, has acquired deep fractures and other surface flaws, causing annoyance and wasting manpower.
The separation of aggregates from the binding substances, roughening of the surface, depressions, mesh-like fissures known as “alligator cracks,” potholes, and enormous excavations commonly referred to as “craters” are examples of road flaws.
The situation is even worse at the Odorkor traffic crossing, where a deep crater has grown, putting both drivers and pedestrians in grave risk.
The situation has resulted in the slow movement of vehicles on the 10-lane highway, leading to the build-up of heavy traffic in the area, especially during rush hours.
There is another crater on the side road on the Mallam-Odorkor side of the road as well as potholes on the opposite side travelling from Kaneshie towards Mallam, as well as on the inverse flow of traffic from Mallam towards Kaneshie.
Upon reaching the craters from either end of the road, the drivers are compelled to slow down to pass through the craters.
Driving from First Light to the Sakaman Junction for instance and vice versa, motorists have to contend with the potholes and gullies in the course of their journey.
Other dangerous spots on the stretch are near Accra Academy, Dansoman Junction, Darkuman Junction, Odorkor and Sakaman.
The situation is worse at night when there is poor visibility. At Odorkor, some motorists meander their way around the craters so that they do not damage their vehicles and in order to move a little faster.
However, in the course of meandering, they sometimes come close to grazing the sides of vehicles, creating panic.
Drivers using the inner lane from the Busia Junction, turning towards Odorkor are also affected by the problem.
Observations
The Daily Graphic team witnessed several incidents during a visit to the traffic lights area last Tuesday to observe the situation.
For instance, in the morning, while the traffic congestions stretched as far as to the Sakaman Junction for vehicles coming from the Mallam, the traffic jam stretches from the Darkuman Junction towards the Odorkor traffic lights for those coming from Kaneshie going to the opposite end in the evening, about 500 metres long.
Motorists’ concerns
In separate interviews, motorists who ply the Dr Busia Highway expressed concern about the situation in view of the precious hours they spent in traffic to go through the area.
They said the situation required urgent attention to ensure the free flow of vehicles so as to boost productivity.
One of such motorists, Yaw Ansah, said driving through the Odorkor traffic intersection had been ‘hellish’ as a result of the time spent in traffic.
“This place used to be one of the free flowing traffic areas on the Dr Busia Highway but unfortunately, that has changed,” he said.
Another motorist, Moses Arthur, said the situation was serious, especially with the prices of petroleum products, adding that “we end up burning all the fuel we buy with our money. Look at fuel prices nowadays, master, something must be done now,” he said.
A resident at Odorkor, Uncle Sam, said the craters could have been stopped from expanding given that they started very small.
“The craters here started very small but because we left them unattended, they have expanded, now see the problem we are having. These must be patched immediately to ease the travelling on the road,” he said.
A resident of Kasoa, Efo Kwaku, who uses the road daily, said the entire stretch needed some work but in the short-term, the Odorkor traffic area needed urgent attention before the unexpected happened.
‘’I have seen some drivers escape accidents by the skin of the teeth when they attempted meandering round those gaping holes.
“Let us not wait for an accident to happen before we set up a committee to, as usual, investigate a problem whose solution we all know,’’ he said.
Road profile
The Dr Busia Highway, previously known the Kaneshie-Mallam High Street, was constructed in 1991 by Construction Pioneers (CP).
The road links the Kaneshie to Odorkor and joins the National Road One (N1) at Mallam.
It was named the Dr Busia Highway after Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, the Prime Minister of the Second Republic who had his private residence along the road at Odorkor (Busia Junction).
Notable places on the stretch include the Kaneshie First Light, Police Quarters, Atico Junction, Dansoman Junction (Hansonic), Darkuman Junction, Odorkor, Sakaman Junction and the Mallam Junction.