The N1 Highway couldn’t ease the Mallam traffic after all!

When the George Walker Bush Highway -also known as N1 Highway- was completed early last year, it was expected to ease traffic congestion on the Mallam-Kasoa road.

Then Roads and Highways Minister Joe Gidisu, in fact, stated at the commissioning of the road in August same year that the 14 kilometer Tetteh Quarshie–Mallam junction road which is one of Ghana’s major road projects will likely cut down on traffic time from 2 hours to about 20 minutes.

Minimizing the time spent by road users, it did, but only for a while.

One could spend as much as two-and-half hours during rush hours between Weija and Mallam junction alone before work on the project was completed.

However the situation changed drastically upon completion, making it possible to travel in less than 10 minutes within the same distance both in the mornings and evenings.

Though it’s been barely a year after the 55.7 million dollar road project was opened to traffic, it appears it is not bringing the relief that residents who live beyond Mallam junction expected. The outrageous traffic jam which once caused motorists a great deal of anguish is slowly returning.

At about 7am Monday, there was an unusually long queue of vehicles between Modex Filling station (near Weija) and Mallam junction.

At a glance anyone who uses the road could speculate the situation may have been as a result of an accident. But to the surprise of commuters there was no accident and no portion of the road had been blocked. It was just traffic.

This was disheartening as commuters had had to endure serious traffic jams in Kasoa and at the toll booth.

As warned a transport consultant Cecil Garbrah, the traffic situation in Accra capital could worsen in the next few years if measures are not taken to control it.

Do you use live beyond or use the Mallam-Kasoa road often? Share your experiences below