The first-ever three tier interchange being constructed to control and direct traffic to the central business district appears to have become a burden and an albatross hanging around the necks of residents of Sekondi-Takoradi, most especially commuters, who use the Casuarina belt road to Kwesimintsim, Apowa, Agona-Nkwanta etc.
Following the abandoning of work by the Chinese contractor on the project, the hitherto access route, constructed for drivers and commuters to use as temporary road, is now posing a danger and death trap.
Not that alone, as the access route has developed huge craters making it extremely difficult for drivers to ply.
What is more annoying is that the access route has become even more difficult to use when it rains. The recent four day of non-stop rains, which hit Sekondi-Takoradi, flooded the access route culminating in heavy traffic congestion.
Before construction work begun on the now abandoned three-tier interchange at the PTC Roundabout, the road was in good shape, devoid of potholes and heavy traffic, and it was the expectation of many, including drivers, that the interchange would facilitate speedy flow of traffic.
However, it appears the expectation many had about the project is being eroded, following the abandoning of work on the interchange, culminating in the deplorable access route, traffic congestion and flood.
What has contributed to erase resident’s expectations appears to be the apparent unconcerned attitude of the city authorities to put the interchange access route into good shape.
The 30 months three-tier interchange was expected to be completed in June 2023 until the Chinese contractor abandoned work due to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionality.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, cut the sod for the construction of the interchange, which is estimated to be 65% complete until the contractor abandoned work.
Drivers and commuters the Western File spoke to expressed grave worry over the deplorable access route at the interchange.
A taxi driver, Eric Boadi, described the access route as a death trap. “The road is very bad and is destroying our vehicles. If you are not careful, you may end up driving into the big created artificial pothole.”
He added that a number of drivers have had to resort to avoiding the route because of its deplorable state. In the end “if drivers are resorting to using other roads, the passengers, most especially those going to Apowa, Kwesimintsim, suffer.”
Another driver appealed to the city authorities to save the road from further destruction. “In this rainy season, if the road is not saved, it will mean no car will transport passengers to Apowa, Apremdo etc.”.
For now, driver unions have hinted at embarking on a sit down strike to force the city authorities to put the interchange access route road into good shape.
The drivers had scheduled last week Tuesday and Wednesday to lay down their tools as a form of punishment to force the city authorities to act, but the four-day non-stop downpour which started on Wednesday may have dealt a big blow to the union.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) Chairman, Mr. Eshun, was on a local radio station, Sankofo 98.9 FM, where he dropped the hint.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, executives of the Sekondi Takoradi branch of the Union (GPRTU) embarked on a day’s tour to inspect deplorable roads in the Metropolis.
The executives first stopped at the interchange access route to inspect and gather at firsthand information on its state.
The GPRTU executives explained that their decision to embark on the road inspecting was due to the hue and cry by its drivers and passengers on its deplorable state.
