Weak Kotokuom bridge closed by roads minister for repairs

The WEAK bridge over the Offinso River at Kotokuom in the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region will be fixed immediately considering the danger it poses to road users, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has assured.

"There is no need to go back to Accra to deliberate further on this. By Friday, contractors should be on site to start work immediately", he assured.

Working visit

The minister made these remarks when he inspected the wrecking Kotokuom bridge at Kotokuom in the Ashanti Region last week Monday.

He was accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene and some members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC).

After the inspection the team declared the facility which was built in the 1950's by Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, unmotorable.

The road has since then been closed to motorists for reconstruction work to begin.

Dr Amoakohene said the ministry had awarded the project to a contractor, who was expected on site by last Friday to commence the work and complete it in not more than three months due to the adverse effects it would have on residents of Kotokuom and neighbouring communities when the bridge is closed.

Weak bridge

Several portions of the bridge, according to residents, had for about eight years shown distress, including pillars that have all developed cracks and are now a death trap.

When the news team accompanied the minister on his tour, it was noticed that metals that hold the bridge were all rusty.

Residents had improvised and used wooden panels to patch portions that had developed holes and that had been their plight until the minister intervened for the bridge to be reconstructed.

According to residents, anytime a loaded vehicle got to the bridge, they were left with no option but to unload the items and in some instances unload passengers - to help reduce the load before the vehicle crossed to the other side of the road and then reboard the vehicles to their destinations.

Suame interchange

Later in the day, the minister and his entourage inspected work on the estimated $135 million project being undertaken by M/S Grupo Dizmar of Spain and the Rango Construction Limited, a Ghanaian company, with supervision of the entire project being the responsibility of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, through the Department of Urban Roads.

Contractors were on site but the completion of the first phase by 2024 as indicated when the sod was cut for commencement in July 2022, had not materialised.