The Urban Roads Department in the Ashanti Region has announced that construction work on the Suame Interchange has already begun.
The Project managers say preliminary designs have been submitted to a review while diversion roads are under construction.
“Since February, we have started with the design works,” Ashanti Regional Director of Urban Roads, Francis Gambrah said, adding that per the programme, “the design work is expected to be completed by August 2023.”
“That does not mean we are not doing anything, we have started the works”, Mr Francis Gambrah told the Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah who visited the site.
The decision to commence the project follows increased demands from residents and road users in the region who have been advocating for its implementation.
Consultants and clients have already received the initial design of the interchange project for review.
A visit to the site indicated the camp site for the construction staff is 85% complete.
Project Manager at Rango Construction, Mohammed Omar Fazzani, says they are ahead of the design schedule.
“I think that by the next one and half month we will finish the design stage and go to the ground to start but we are ahead of our schedule”, he added.
In October 2022, President Akufo-Addo cut sod for construction works to begin on the Suame Interchange project.
The 4-tier interchange project, including five overpasses, is to be constructed in two phases within 30-months.
It will also result in the widening of sections of the road and improvement in selected roads in the catchment.
Meanwhile, Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah assured diversion roads are being constructed ahead of main works.
“They have some assess roads to construct so they can divert the road. The Suame Road is a very busy road.”
“Imagine closing one side of the road for all the vehicles to use the other, so the local roads will have to be fixed to ease the traffic”, he said.