Construction of bridge over Okye River progresses

Construction of a bailey bridge over the Okye River at Ochisoa in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District of the Central Region is progressing steadily.

The bridge will replace a 79-year-old concrete bridge which was destroyed after the river overflowed its banks, following a downpour on September 14, last year.

Interconnectivity among communities such as Ochisoa, Fosuansa, Jamra, Kokoso, Benin, Brakwa, Asentem and Amanfopong, all in the district, and others in Akyem Oda in the Birim Central District and Akyem Swedru; Akyem Awisa and Akyem Achiase in the Birim South District of the Eastern Region were disrupted when the river broke its banks.

Visit

An Engineer at the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), who is supervising the project, Mr Isaac Brown, told the Daily Graphic during a visit to the site last Saturday that 85 per cent of the work had been done.

What was left was for the Department of Feeder Roads to supply the components of the bridge to enable the workers, who are from the Bridge Maintenance Unit of the GHA, to complete the work in about three months’ time.

The cost of the bridge is estimated at GH¢537,000.

Work done

Mr Brown stated that work done so far included the breaking of the old concrete of the damaged bridge and de-silting the river to ease the flow of the river as well as the construction of the bridge seats on which the bridge decks would be sitting.

According to him, as an important measure to prevent the new bridge from being washed away in case of a downpour, stone pitching and a gabion wall had been constructed to protect the bridge from destruction.

“We have laid the needed structural foundation that would speed up the completion of the project when the bailey bridge components are ready,” he said.

Mr Brown explained that the remaining work involved construction of the deck, assembling of the bridge components, launching of the bridge as well as the construction of the approach slabs to enhance movement of vehicles on it when completed.

He noted that immediately the components were available, the work left would be completed within a week and handed over for use.

Satisfaction

The District Engineer in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District, Mr Victor Babbah, expressed satisfaction with the work done so far, saying that the works had been professionally executed according to specification.

The District Chief Executive, Mr Isaac Odoom, commended the GHA for working assiduously to complete the project so as to put an end to the problem of motorists going through long winding routes to reach their destinations.

Kuntanase Bridge fixed

Meanwhile, the concrete bridge on the Boyor River at Breman Kuntanase has been reconstructed and opened to traffic, bringing a huge relief to people in the community.

Part of the 97-year-old concrete bridge got damaged on Sunday October 20, 2019, when a KIA Rhino truck that was carrying timber beams and travelling from the Asikuma direction towards Swedru was crossing the river.

The situation brought untold hardship to passengers since it particularly led to increase in the cost of transportation.
Passengers were compelled to alight at one end of the bridge and cross over to join waiting vehicles at the other end before reaching Agona Swedru or Breman Asikuma.