Rehabilitation of 42-yr-old Apenkwa bridge causes huge traffic

The closure of the Apenkwa bridge on the N1 highway has caused huge inconvenience to road users, with many motorists spending at least an hour in traffic.

The bridge was partially closed to vehicular traffic and the traveling public to allow for emergency repair works for a period of 25 days.

Visible cracks on the highway posed a danger to road users, leading to the closure of the bridge to allow for work. But the closure is causing inconvenience to motorists.

Class FM’s Nabil Ahmed Rufai, who visited the site on Tuesday May 2, reported that most of the motorists expressed frustration, complaining bitterly that the situation was unbearable in the morning and during the evening’s rush hour.

Some of the road users wondered why the repair works could not be done at night when the road was less busy as traffic builds up from Apenkwa to Dzorwulu.

Meanwhile, Isaac Brown, the engineer in charge of the project, explained that the bridge was constructed in 1975 and meticulous work was needed to rehabilitate it.

He explained that a structural analysis needed to be conducted to determine the strength of the bridge before usage.

Aminu Abubakar, manager of Bridge Maintenance Unit at the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), told Emefa Apawu on Class FM’s 505 news programme that heavy trucks that plied the road had caused a huge hole in it.

He indicated that the entire stretch needed concrete overlay which will be done in two days after the completion of the installation of a metal mesh.

He added that the bridge required proper maintenance due to the old concrete used in its construction and if not done carefully will result in other problems.

He pleaded with the public to exercise restraint as the engineers work around the clock to finish the work by May 14.