Dept of Urban Roads establishes bridge maintenance unit
The Department of Urban Roads (DUR) of the Ministry of Roads and Highway has set up a bridge maintenance unit to effectively supervise the Kwame Nkrumah Flyover when it is handed over, as well as other modern bridges springing up across the country.
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This is to ensure that the 100-year lifespan of the flyover is not compromised as a result of poor maintenance.
The DUR until now never had the bridge maintenance unit because there were no composite bridges in the past.
Training session
To equip the unit with skilled human resource, some technical officials of the unit are currently undergoing training on how to maintain such bridges.
The Director of the Department of Urban Roads, Alhaji Abass Awolu, who said this to the Daily Graphic in an interview, said as part of the contract of the flyover, five technical officials from the unit would be sent to Europe to be trained in how to handle such bridges.
He explained that “composite bridges” were new to the department and there was the need to adequately train people to be able to maintain them when the contractors handed them over.
Composite bridges
Alhaji Awolu said the trend was clear that more of such structures would be springing up and that there was the need to have core personnel to deal with any challenges that might arise after the handover.
The composite bridges currently in the country include the yet-to-be-completed Kwame Nkrumah flyover, the upcoming Kasoa interchange, the Sofoline interchange, the Ako Adjei flyover, the Tetteh Quarshie interchange; among others.
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Modern terminals
Touching on other components of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle flyover, Alhaji Awolu said apart from addressing the severe congestions constantly experienced in the area, the project would also turn the Odawna Terminal and the Neoplan Station into modern car parks.
He said work at the Odawna Terminal had already started, while arrangements were being put in place to also start work at the Neoplan Station.
Alhaji Awolu explained that when completed, the Odawna Terminal would house a passengers’ waiting shed and modern offices for the various transport unions, while the muddy area would be paved with blocks.
He said the Neoplan Station would also see a facelift to include a two-storey facility to cater for offices for the transport unions, passengers’ waiting place and a police post.
Alhaji Awolu said the facelift at both lorry stations was expected to address the bad nature of the areas anytime it rained and also reduce the inconvenience of passengers.
He announced that works on a Kwame Nkrumah statue to be erected on a high pedestal at the Obra Spot with a modern fountain had begun.