The Resident Engineer, Owusu Sekyere Antwi, has provided assurance that work on the second phase of the Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchange, which was halted in May of this year, will recommence once the government completes negotiations with its external creditors.
The project, which began in February 2021 with an initial completion target of March this year, experienced a suspension in its progress due to the government’s debt exchange program.
Mr. Antwi, who doubles as the project consultant, clarified that the work suspension was primarily the result of a government directive rather than financial constraints.
He said “the loan acquired for the project is available to be used, but we need to respect the decision of our client who has asked us to hold on until it concludes discussions with its financial partners.”
The contractor, Messrs QGC UK Limited, initially returned to the construction site about three weeks ago to recommence work but later withdrew from the site, disappointing the hopeful expectations of the public.
The extended delay has raised concerns among the public, especially motorists and commuters, who are urging the government to allocate the necessary funding to ensure the completion of the project.
Mr. Antwi clarified the contractor’s actions, stating that they had returned to the site primarily to secure a significant number of pre-cast slabs that had been exposed to the elements and dust on the bridge to prevent their deterioration.
During a site visit, it was observed that only a minimal workforce was present, which the Resident Engineer explained was a cost-saving measure, adding that the remaining workers would be instructed to return when work recommences.
Mr. Sekyere-Antwi disclosed that approximately 83 percent of the project had already been completed, and the remaining 17 percent would require approximately six months to finish once work is authorized to resume.
He stated that the construction of the bridge, encompassing both the steel superstructure, substructure, and pillars, had been finalized. What remained was the concrete work, which would necessitate a 21-day curing period, followed by the laying of asphalt.
Mr. Sekyere-Antwi noted that the storm drains in the vicinity had already been constructed, and the remaining tasks involved the drainage systems from the SIC area to Royal House Chapel and from Korle-Bu.
The second phase of the interchange project, valued at 92 million Euros and executed by Messrs QGC UK Limited, commenced in February 2021 with an original completion target set for March 2023. However, due to constraints faced during the construction process, the construction engineers requested an extension of the timeline, which was subsequently granted.
The project encompasses the third tier of the interchange, involving construction work from the Interchange leading towards Abossey Okai. It also includes the development of underground storm drains extending from the Hyundai stretch to Pamprom, near Kaneshie.
The introduction of these supplementary storm drains is anticipated to mitigate the recurrent flooding issues in the vicinity. The first phase of the project, valued at $35 million, was successfully finished in November of the previous year, surpassing expectations by being completed five months ahead of schedule.
