More Footbridges For N1 Highway

Isaac Adjei-Mensah

Isaac Adjei-Mensah



Isaac Adjei-Mensah
Bids have been invited for the award of contract for the construction of five additional footbridges on the N1 Highway otherwise known as George Bush Highway in Accra to help pedestrians cross to either side of the road and help reduce the incidence of speeding vehicles knocking down pedestrians on the highway.

This was made known by the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highway, Isaac Adjei-Mensah, in Parliament yesterday in a response to a question filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, who wanted to find out what the Ministry is doing to ensure pedestrians’ safety on the N1 Highway especially at Abeka Lapaz Junction.

The Okaikwei Central MP had expressed similar concerns in a statement on the Floor of Parliament over school children being knocked down by speeding vehicles when crossing the N1 Highway.

The Deputy Minister indicated in his answer that in view of the urgency of the situation at Abeka Lapaz, procurement process is currently underway for an additional footbridge to be constructed at Abeka Lapaz so that pedestrians could safely use that stretch of the road.

According to the Deputy Roads and Highway Minister, a contractor has also been engaged to undertake the installation of a traffic light with a pelican phase to link the two ‘trotro’ stations at Abeka Lapaz by September, this year.

He said a pelican crossing is being placed at Dzorwulu which would be ready by the end of July, 2014.

He said similar pelican crossings are being placed at the Kwashieman and Awoshie juctions of the highway to enable pedestrians to use them too.

‘We have also programmed to provide directional signs at the approaches of the entries and exits of the interchange,’ he said, stressing that the Ministry is also looking at the possibility of providing two underpasses on the highway.

When Hon Boamah asked the Deputy Minister when exactly the construction of the additional footbridges would begin, Mr Adjei- Mensah could not give the exact date but only said it would be very soon.

The NPP MP for Okaikwei North, Elizabeth Sackey, for her part urged the Ministry to expedite action on whatever plans it has in order to make the Abeka Lapaz section of the road safe for pedestrians.

By Thomas Fosu Jnr

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