Contractors working on the Accra–Tema Motorway Expansion have suspended a planned road diversion at the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange following heavy traffic that left commuters stranded for hours.
Speaking to the media on March 10, Project Manager Ing. Ben Sackey explained that the diversion, designed to facilitate bridge expansion works, caused far more disruption than anticipated.
“Basically, our work programme has reached Tetteh Quarshie, where we are expanding the bridge,” Ing. Sackey said. “The plan is to extend the existing lanes, bringing the bridge to ten lanes by adding three more lanes on each side. To do this, we need to control traffic to allow the launching of T-beams on the piers already constructed.”
He added that the traffic management plan had been simulated in advance to ensure smooth operations. “Yesterday, however, we realised that the real-world impact was far worse than expected. Continuing with the plan as it was would have caused unacceptable congestion for the next four months,” he noted.
Acknowledging that the suspension could affect the project timeline, Ing. Sackey emphasised the contractors’ responsibility to the public.
“As contractors, we are accountable to the public. We must consider their challenges and factor them into our programme. While this decision may delay our schedule, we are committed to revising the plan to find a solution that works for both the contractors and the public,” he said.
He further indicated that a meeting would be held to explore alternative traffic management strategies. “We aim to implement a plan that will not create the level of congestion witnessed yesterday,” he concluded.
The Accra–Tema Motorway Expansion is a major infrastructure project aimed at easing traffic flow between Accra and Tema. However, the recent challenges at Tetteh Quarshie highlight the delicate balance between construction progress and commuter convenience