Wednesday, July 16, 2008

ASAFO INTERCHANGE NOT DANGEROUS FOR USE (PAGE 29)

THE Kumasi Metropolitan Roads Engineer, Mr J. O. Amoo-Gottfried, has stated that the main bridge of the Asafo Market-UTC interchange did not suffer any structural defects as being speculated in sections of the media.
He said the interchange suffered only a “minor defect”, which had been repaired.
He said there was, therefore, no need for the public especially motorists to panic over reports that the interchange was crumbling.
Mr Amoo-Gottfried told the Daily Graphic yesterday that some “fillings” at the interchange caved in but that was not a major defect to crumble the entire project.
He said the contractor was quickly informed and he corrected the defect.
The metropolitan engineer gave the assurance that the interchange was in good shape for use by vehicles.
Consequently, he urged drivers not to panic when using it.
The Asafo Market -UTC interchange, the first of its kind in Kumasi, was inaugurated by President Kufuor about 10 months ago.
Its construction delayed for more than two years but its completion came as a big relief to motorists and passengers who had to spend long hours in traffic travelling from Kejetia through the then Asafo Market roundabout to Amakom.
Meanwhile, Kumasi is to get two more interchanges following the government’s initiative to improve the road situation in the metropolis.
One of the proposed interchanges will be located at Sofoline and the other at Asokwa near the police station.
China Gio, the Chinese firm working on the Sofoline interchange, has started work in earnest.
The old market has been removed while one of the filling stations in the area has also relocated leaving another.

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