The Buipe Bridge, which crosses the Black Volta in the Central Gonja District of the Northern Region, is to be fully opened to traffic on March 15.
The bridge is currently undergoing an emergency maintenance, leading to its closure to motorists from 1400 hours to 1800 hours each day since February 17, and only vehicles weighing up to 20 tons are allowed to cross the bridge from 0600 hours to 1400 hours each day.
Following the emergency maintenance works, motorists travelling to the Region are advised to use Kumasi – Techiman – Wenchi – Sawla – Fufulso Junction Road, while those travelling from the north to the south are to use Tamale – Fufulso Junction – Sawla – Wenchi – Techiman Road.
Mr Enam Amuzu, Project Supervisor, Buipe Bridge Maintenance, who briefed the GNA at Buipe, said the ongoing emergency maintenance works were 85 per cent complete.
Mr Amuzu said the emergency maintenance works, which involved repairing metal joints and broken slaps to make the bridge strong, would be completed by March 20.
The Bride, constructed to last for 50 years, is now in its 54th year, and had suffered a lot of distress resulting in weak metal joints and broken slaps.
Mr Amuzu said the Bridge Maintenance Unit of the Ministry of Roads and Highways missed the earlier deadline of March 8, to open the bridge because of equipment challenges.
He said the emergency maintenance works were a short term measure to keep the bridge in good shape advising motorists to adhere to the allowable weight of up to 20 tons limit when crossing the bridge.
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