Urban mobility improves in Cape Coast
In the past few years, the rather quiet Cape Coast Metropolis has experienced population growth which has come with vehicular congestion in some areas.
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With congestion, the poor conditions of a number of roads, particularly gravel roads, worsen during the rainy season and makes traversing parts of the city difficult.
Many commuters have had cause to complain about the poor nature of some of these roads, a few of which were tarred in the past but which are now riddled with potholes.
The metropolis, according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, had 169,894 people but after five years, the number could have swelled.
Roads remain one of the many demands of a growing metropolis, and Cape Coast is not an exception.
Road condition mix
Currently, Cape Coast, which is also a fishing community, has a total road network length of 625 kilometres, while Awutu Senya East of which the populous Kasoa township is part, has 316.12km.
According to the Central Regional Director of the Department of Urban Roads (DUR), Mr Mawutor Kofi Keketsyor, 61, 31 and eight per cent of roads in Cape Coast are in good, poor and fair conditions, respectively.
In order to improve on the road network, the regional office of the DUR rolled out projects with the aim of easing congestion in parts of the metropolis.
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The Amamoma road.
“The best strategy is to provide alternatives to existing roads to ease the pressure on them, encourage the use of high occupancy vehicles for public transportation, provide better traffic management on the existing roads in order to move people, goods and services from their trip origins to preferred destinations as quickly as possible and in total safety”, Mr Keketsyor stated in an interview.
On-going projects — Rehabilitation of Pedu/Adaaso/Regional Hospital Area Roads
Currently, Messrs Walker Enterprise Limited is working on Phases One and Two of the Pedu-Adaaso-Regional Hospital area roads which started in 2014.
Pedu and Adaaso are highly populated communities within the Cape Coast metropolis. The two communities are mostly residential and constitute close to 15 per cent of the entire population in Cape Coast. These communities also share boundary with the Central Regional Teaching Hospital, the biggest in the region. Also, the area has some of the city’s hotels and guest houses. However, the impassable nature of roads drastically slows down economic activities.
As work progresses on the construction of these roads, it is the expectation of many, including. Mr Keketsyor, that “there will be an improvement in economic activities, and travel time will reduced”.
The Pedu-Adaaso-Regional Hospital roads, when completed, would also help divert significant amount of traffic from the North Jukwa Road and provide alternative to the Central Regional Hospital for motorists approaching from Moree.
“Prior to the construction, the road was impassable, impeded by a thick forest near the Catholic Seminary. Our attempt to construct some of these roads has been difficult but worth the trouble seeing the relief it has brought to motorists even before their completion,”Mr Keketsyor stated.
At the time of the visit, personnel of the Contractor, Mr Johnhny Walker, were preparing the road for the primer seal (the first sealing).
Mr Walker is optimistic that work will be completed on time to ease the difficulties associated with moving in and out of that part of Cape Coast.
M/S Walker Enterprise Limited is also working on the rehabilitation of the Ola Estate roads which started in 2011 and should have been completed by now but is currently facing some delays.
Under this project, a total of 3.3Km of roads are being rehabilitated.
Rehabilitation of selected roads in Cape Coast South
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Ekon, Akyim, Bricksfield, Savoy, Prospect Lodge and Light House are benefitting from the Cape Coast South rehabilitation project being executed by M/S Legna Construction Works.
The project entails the construction of U-drains, laying of kerbs, laying of subbase and base courses, and surface dressing. In all, a total of 4.54km of roads are being rehabilitated.
M/S Legna is currently on site working on various aspects of the project.
The 1.4 km Ekon stretch constructed under this project has brought enormous relief to residents of Ekon, a fishing community. The now tarred road is the only access to the community.
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Ekon road being tarred.
A fishmonger, Madam Mary Abbiw said prior to the construction, it was difficult for them to even get commercial drivers, mostly taxi drivers, to transport them home with their goods (fish from the beach) because of the poor nature of the road.
“Today, the drivers beg to carry us home because our road has been tarred,” she stated.
Mr Francis Asafua, a taxi driver also at Ekon, recalled how difficult it was to ply the road a few months back.
“We are all happy. The road was completed early this year and it has really helped us. No dust, and difficulty in moving in and out of this community is a thing of the past.”
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Rehabilitation of selected roads in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area-North
Nkanfua, Kakumdo and Amamoma, three suburbs in Cape Coast, are also benefiting from this project being executed by Messrs Samwilco Construction Limited.
The project started in July 23, 2015, and is expected to be completed same month, this year.
Rehabilitation of Abura By Pass and links
M/S Walker Enterprise Limited is again constructing the Abura bypass into a two-lane single carriageway. Abura Road Links One (1,) Two (2) and Three (3) are also being constructed. “The 2.7km project has become necessary in order to provide alternative routes to ease traffic congestion on the overburdened North Jukwa road which will result in reduced travel time and vehicle maintenance cost,” Ing. Keketsyor stated. He said the project would enable the free movement of goods and people to and within Abura and its environs. “As a result, Abura will further be opened up and serve as a catalyst for major economic activities and educational development of Cape Coast.
A section of the Abura bypass.
This will to a large extent lift up the standard of living of the people,” he added.
Other projects
Other ongoing projects are the rehabilitation of Pipe Tank-Bawjiase road at Agona Swedru, rehabilitation of Dunkwa town roads and rehabilitation of selected roads at Assin Fosu.
“The construction of a bridge over Benya Lagoon at Elmina is progressing steadily as contractor, China Railway Wuju Group, nears 90 per cent completion. The reconstruction of the Benya Bridge became necessary following structural weaknesses in the old structure. The bridge, however, serves as an important connection to the fishing market and the Elmina Castle. It also serves as an alternative route to Bronyibima, Bantuma and a number of hotel facilities located in the municipality. The bridge, when completed, is expected to promote tourism and the hospitality industry at Elmina.”
The Central Region is also benefiting from a total of 95km asphaltic concrete overlay programme, which was rolled out last year by the DUR to preserve the massive investments that have been made in road development over the years.
Out of this total length, Cape Coast is benefiting from 30km, Elmina 10km, Winneba 10km, Agona Swedru 15km, Saltpond 10km, Mankessim 10km and Dunkwa-On-Offin 10km.
Work on the Dunkwa road.
Mr Keketsyor said work had already started at Winneba and Cape Coast. Meanwhile, various contractors, according to him, were also mobilising to commence work in other district assemblies within the region.