<<Print>>

After missing the March deadline, contractors working on the Tetteh Quarshie footbridge last Friday opened it to pedestrians. The project, executed by Waagner Biro Bridge Systems AG, is one of four footbridges being constructed on hazardous roads in Accra and Kumasi, at a cost of 7.8 million euros secured through a loan from the Austrian Government. More bridges Two of the bridges-- Mallam Market, which is 90 per cent complete, together with another one near the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Junction in Kumasi-are expected to be completed in October this year. The fourth one at Gulf House near Shiashie is scheduled to be completed in early 2016. Prior to the construction of the bridge, a number of pedestrians lost their lives while trying to cross the road. To prevent the situation where pedestrians cross the highways instead of using the footbridges, railings have been erected in the median of the road. The Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, who cut the tape to inaugurate the bridge, said it was important to intensify public education to prevent people from endangering their lives in that manner. He said the carnage on the stretch had compelled the authorities to construct the footbridge to ensure pedestrian safety. Maintenance Speaking with the Daily Graphic, the Director of Departments for Urban Roads, Alhaji Abass Aworlu, said the department was setting a bridge maintenance unit to monitor and maintain all the footbridges after the contractor�s one year�s warranty had expired. Mr Aworlu appealed to the public to report to the police drivers who crash into the railings to ensure that they replaced the railings. But Mr Aworlu said the department was in talks with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the La Dedakotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMa) to engage private sector businesses to find innovative ways of generating funds around the bridge for its maintenance and also prevent it from becoming a place for hawking.