Ayiem(W/R) July 10, GNA - Mr. Anthony E. Amoah, Western Regional Minister has expressed satisfaction at the on-going rehabilitation works on the Axim Junction-Tarkwa road.

He said although work on the project was progressing steadily, it was far behind schedule and appealed to the contractors to speed up work to complete the project to facilitate movement of goods and services between Tarkwa, Takoradi and beyond.

Mr. Amoah who was inspecting the road last Saturday, said it was a very useful link that could enable communities along it develop rapidly, enjoy other essential services and establish more cottage industries. Mr. Dean Packer, Project Manager of Taysec Construction Company, said work on the 60-kilometre road, which begun in 2003, had been delayed due to the waterlogged nature of the area. He said though originally 600,000 cubic metres of excavation needed to be done it was realised that the excavation works had risen to 1.2 million cubic metres.

Mr. Packer said this had also contributed to the delay of works estimated at about 141 billion cedis.

At Ayiem, Mr. Amoah also inspected the 13.7 kilometres road, linking Ayiem to the main Takoradi-Agona Nkwanta road, constructed by Eagle Star Construction Company based in Accra. The road constructed at a cost of 6.2 billion cedis has been completed but ended at the outskirts of the town. Mr. Peter Yawson, Western Region Feeder Roads Engineer said, feeder road networks were meant to open up the communities and make them accessible to other towns.

He said work on the road would have been completed earlier but the demand for compensation by some farmers delayed the project.