NRSC moves to guarantee safety of road users

The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) has begun a programme to ensure that new roads have facilities that will ensure the safety of road users.

The initiative is aimed at preventing defects on new roads, which create problems for pedestrians and drivers.

As part of the programme, the NRSC will visit newly constructed roads in the country and make recommendations.

The Executive Director of the NRSC, Mrs Mary Obiri-Yeboah, disclosed this during its inspection of rehabilitation works on the Madina Boundary Road in Accra. The commission had earlier this year visited the contractors in charge of the project and made some recommendations.

Citing the George Walker Bush highway as an example, Mrs Obiri-Yeboah said there were many defects on some new roads which resulted in accidents.

Although, the Ministry of Roads and Highways is working to get more footbridges on the N1 highway, she said that the commission wanted to avoid such defects to ensure the safety of road users. She also advised pedestrians to make good use of facilities provided for their safety.

Although work on the Madina Boundary Road is yet to be completed, the facility is heavily patronised by both pedestrians and motorists. The road links the American House roundabout in East Legon through to ARS and Ogbojo to the Madina Social Welfare area.

The rehabilitation of the Madina Boundary Road started on February 17, 2011 and is expected to be completed by July, 2014.

As part of the project, the Motorway Slip Road and the Gulf House road through to North Dorwulu will also be rehabilitated at the cost of GH¢38,795,111 to be funded by the government.

The Maintenance Engineer from the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Mr Kofi Nti Appiagyei, who is in charge of the project, explained that the Madina Boundary Road had pedestrian crossings at every 300 metres.

Other safety measures, he mentioned, were walkways on both sides of the road, lay-bys for vehicles to park, road line marks, streetlights and traffic lights which would be powered by solar energy.

Mr Appiagyei announced that 73 per cent of work on the project had been done and gave an assurance that it would be completed by November, this year.

He said minor works would be completed by, next year.

By Salomey Appiah, Accra
Daily Graphic/graphic.com.gh/Ghana