Barring any interferences from the weather condition, the Gambigo bridge in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region will be completed for use by December 2022, the Project Manager, Mr Zouraid Hatoum has said.
He conceded that the project was not started as per the schedule time owing to bad weather conditions which delayed the construction work, “We started the project at the wrong time. We started at the beginning of the raining season.”
Speaking to Word News in an interview on work done so far on the bridge, Mr Hatoum was hopeful that without any weather challenges, the project would be completed in less than six months.
The bridge, which broken down several years ago, connects the Bolgatanga East District to the Regional capital, Bolgatanga, and some communities in the Talensi District and therefore made it difficult for commuters to access the road, especially in the raining season.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Hon. David Akolgo Amoah, who paid a working visit to the site, expressed happiness about the level of work done on the bridge so far, and noted that the challenges commuters, especially residents of Gambigo faced on that portion of the road would soon be over.
“We have cried for this bridge for years, since Independence, the people of this area could not access the main road easily because of the river, and the construction of the bridge is timely,” he said.
Hon. Amoah said even though the wish of residents was to have the bridge constructed and completed early before the unset of the rains, “It is still a good thing for us, and looking at the quality of work going on, we are so excited because the Contractor is doing quality work.”
He said despite the delay in the first schedule to meet the deadline of one year, he noted that with the quantity of work left so far, they could meet the deadline for the bridge to be commissioned by December 2022.
Mr. Peter Dagadu, the Consultant and Engineer for the project, disclosed to Word News that the bridge was awarded at a cost of GH¢6.6 million, explaining that the amount was meant for only the sub-structure and concrete work.
“This bridge was awarded for GH¢6.6 million for only the sub-structure and the concrete on top. The sub-structure is all the concrete work you see under and on top. So, the GH¢6.6 million is just for the concrete works and the river diversion,” he explained.
He said the project was undertaken by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Roads and Highways with support from the Czech Republic.
He said a total of 200 bridges would be constructed under the project, and out of the number, 50 bridges were under construction across the country.
For the Upper East Region, the Engineer said apart from the Gambigo bridge, Azimsum, a community at Sumbrungu in the Bolgatanga Municipality would also benefit from the bridges.
Mr Dagadu said the Ministry of Roads and Highways was able to secure funds through the Knight Ghana Limited for all the bridges, and indicated that “This is phase one of the program, phase one is 50 bridges spread all over the country with equity so that every District or Region will benefit.”
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya