Obstructed lanes, potholes hinder Kasoa-Accra travel

Commuters and motorists travelling from Kasoa to Accra yesterday morning had to endure gruelling hours of gridlock after sections of the route were blocked following last Tuesday's downpour, which washed silt onto portions of the road.

From the Tuba Junction to the Broadcasting Junction, Mile 11 to Bortianor Junction and between the SCC Junction and the Old barrier traffic light, which has been covered by silt, drivers were compelled to use all unorthodox routes and means to escape from that enclave.

The already frustrating episode was further exacerbated when two heavy-duty trucks caught up in the gridlock blocked a section of the SCC Junction and the Old barrier traffic light route, forcing vehicles from the Westhills Mall direction to either climb the median onto the Accra-Kasoa road or turn to join the same route from the SCC traffic light to share a single lane with the oncoming vehicles from Accra towards Kasoa.

The two trucks were stuck in the mud and have since remained on the road, virtually obstructing the free flow of traffic.

Desperation

The panicky and chaotic situation led to confrontations and a hustle and bustle among commuters, drivers and driver mates over transport and fares as they desperately sought every means to get to the Central Business District of Accra.

Many spent close to four hours or more just to travel a journey that took about 45 minutes or an hour to reach Accra.

Some commercial transport operators, popularly known as trotro drivers, took advantage of the situation to charge unapproved fares, placing an additional financial burden on passengers.

Sharing their frustration with the Daily Graphic, commuters travelling from Kasoa to Accra described the situation as unacceptable and very frustrating.

They said the journey from Kasoa to Accra ordinarily took about an hour and that spending close to four hours on a journey of about 30 kilometres was a blot on the conscience of the nation.

The commuters said it was “embarrassing.”

They, therefore, called on the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly and the Ghana Police Service to urgently remove the trucks to restore normal traffic flow.

The passengers who called for the re-engineering of the Accra-Kasoa and Kasoa-Accra road also stressed the need for the immediate construction of internal roads within the Weija and Kasoa enclave to serve as alternative routes in such circumstances.

Many also expressed concern about commercial drivers charging unapproved fares and called on the relevant authorities to intervene to halt the exploitation.

Road condition

Recent rains have led to the deterioration of the road from Kasoa through Mallam Junction, Sakaman, Darkuman and Dansoman junctions, making vehicular movement very tiresome and stressful.

Large portions of the stretch have become muddy and uneven with large potholes, while sections remain waterlogged after every downpour.