Chinese contractors working on the rehabilitation and expansion of the Sunyani inner-city roads project have promised to deliver quality works, and complete the project as scheduled.
Mr. Lieo Xiaozhun, the Deputy Manager of the project being executed by the Sinohydro-Corporation, said despite emerging challenges, works on the 39-kilometre stretch, which covers Sunyani (29 kilometres) and Berekum (10 kilometre) municipalities are progressing steadily. He said, very soon, bitumen works on the Sunyani portion would commence.
He gave the assurance when he conducted Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister, and a team of engineers from the Urban Roads Department round the project sites in Sunyani.
Mr. Xiaozhun asked residents in the regional capital to remain calm, saying quality and excellence remain the trademark of the Sinohydro-Corporation.
President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia cut the sod for the work to begin on the 29-kilometre Sunyani town roads in September 2020.
Work on the project, costing the nation about US$45 million, commenced in December 2020, and is expected to be completed in 2023.
It forms part of the rehabilitation and expansion of major roads across the country, being funded under the Sinohydro Agreement the Akufo-Addo government signed with Sinohydro Corporation and the Chinese government.
Beneficiary communities
About eight major suburbs and a total of 26 communities under these suburbs in the Sunyani Municipality are benefiting from the project.
They include Agyei Ano (Dr. Berko), Mayfair, Baakoniaba, New Town, Berlin Top, and Penkwase areas’ roads, as well as Estate inner link roads.
The project also captures specific roads in the Berekum Municipality, which would also witness massive expansion and rehabilitation works.
Mr Jacob Nelson, the Bono Regional Director of Urban Roads Department, later told newsmen work done so far on the project is about 31 per cent.
He said though 41 percent of the contract period had already elapsed, from all indications, the contractors would be able to meet the deadline because they are almost through with the major works. He said 41 percent of drainage works had also been completed
Mr Nelson explained major works, including construction of five culverts, on the nine-kilometre ring road from the Jubilee Park to the Fiapre roundabout, were expected to be completed in March this year.
Speed up
Mad Owusu-Banahene said she was highly impressed about the progress of work. She however appealed to the contractors to speed up the work, saying “what my people want to see is the bitumen on the road”.
She also commended the Urban Roads Department and the Municipal Development Collaborative, the project consultants, for their excellent monitoring role, and asked residents to continue to cooperate with the contractors.
On completion, the Regional Minister indicated, the project would not only beautify but would further open up the capital, attract investors, and thereby facilitate trade and commerce for rapid socio-economic growth and development.
The Regional Minister and the team of engineers later inspected progress of work on the rehabilitation of the Kotokrom-Yawhima dual carriage stretch, and commended the Sames Company Limited, the contractors, for the progress of work.
Mad Owusu-Banahene indicated that this particular stretch remains one of the busiest roads in the region, saying any delay would slow down economic activities.
Credit: GNA
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