The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has closed the Prang-Atebubu stretch of the Atebubu-Kumasi Highway in the Bono East Region to traffic because the White Volta has submerged the Nyomoase Bridge on the highway.
Several communities along the stretch have been cut off due to the flood, resulting in the slowing down of the movement of residents and their economic activities.
The road closure, therefore, is part of the safety protocols, especially given the fact that the bridge is at the waiting period after undergoing recent construction works.
No casualty, has however, been reported.
Easing the inconvenience
The Bono East Regional Director of the GHA who confirmed the closure to the media said the authority had taken the proactive measure by diverting the road to facilitate all manner of movements, be it vehicular or pedestrian.
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“The river submerged the Nyomoase bridge and portions of the road connecting communities, thereby making vehicular movement difficult and visibility on the road remained poorer for drivers and motorists,” he explained,
Mr Okanklu said in the interim, a cofferdam had been constructed to contain the water on the highway to create space for commuters, as efforts are being to remedy the situation.
A cofferman is watertight enclosure pumped dry to permit construction work below the waterline, as when building bridges or repairing a ship.
He also urged drivers and travellers to avoid the area and instead use alternative routes.
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He emphasised that the situation on the bridge was critical, and as such any attempts to cross it in its current state could be life-threatening, thus drivers should not be influenced by local residents who might offer to guide them through the flood , noting that any such attempts could lead to deadly accidents.
Mr Okangklu reiterated that, once the water levels receded and the bridge was deemed safe, normal traffic would resume.
“We are on standby, ready to fix the road as soon as the water levels go down,” he assured, and called on the affected communities, drivers and passengers to remain calm.
Safety and security
The Bono East Regional Minister, Kwasi Adu-Gyan, visited the scene and gave the assurance that to the affected communities that the situation would be fixed as soon possible.
He described the Atebubu-Kumasi Highway as a valuable asset, and that the government would ensure that the highway was maintained to play its important economic and social purposes.
