The attention of the Ministry of Roads and Highways (MRH) has been drawn to a publication titled “Minority Leader demands structural audit on Tamale Overhead Bridge,” published by the Ghana News Agency and other media outlets. The publication indicates that the Hon. Minority Leader, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, made the comments when he addressed journalists on what he described as “the people’s concerns over the Tamale overhead bridge project.”
The MRH’s concern is borne out of the fact that the Minority Leader could have easily sought clarification from the Ministry instead of channelling the concern through the media.
Be that as it may, the Ministry wishes to address the concerns raised in the publication as follows:
1. The Tamale Interchange
- The Tamale interchange has a total bridge and ramp length of 1072m. The bridge is a continuous concrete bridge which is different from the other simply supported bridges in the past, which had a lot of expansion joints and reduced the driving comfort of motorists. It is a pre-stressed concrete box girder that is very efficient for curves on the bridge, with high torsional resistance.
- The Tamale interchange has a total bridge and ramp length of 1072m. The bridge is a continuous concrete bridge which is different from the other simply supported bridges in the past, which had a lot of expansion joints and reduced the driving comfort of motorists. It is a pre-stressed concrete box girder that is very efficient for curves on the bridge, with high torsional resistance.
- The Tamale interchange has a total bridge and ramp length of 1072m. The bridge is a continuous concrete bridge which is different from the other simply supported bridges in the past, which had a lot of expansion joints and reduced the driving comfort of motorists. It is a pre-stressed concrete box girder that is very efficient for curves on the bridge, with high torsional resistance.
- The existing road between the Central Mosque and the Taxi Rank used to be a two-lane 6.5m road. However, this has been upgraded to a two-lane 14m interchange on the second tier with a slip road of 5m on the ground level, thereby significantly improving the capacity of the road.
2. Structural Audit
- We wish to state categorically that the Tamale Interchange project has been undertaken in accordance with the standards and specifications of the Ministry. The bridge has been designed to have a 100-year design life. The design went through a rigorous process of approval before implementation. In line with best practice, the Ministry appointed an independent supervision consultant to superintend the execution of the works. All test results conducted during Construction have proven to be above the required specifications. The Ministry assures all Ghanaians that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure the bridge’s stability and value for money.
3. Concerns about the Roundabout
- The roundabout at the central mosque has a roadway width of 6m and a diameter of 22m. It has been designed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways standards.
4. Demolition of Structures
- As far as the project is concerned, all the space required to construct the interchange has been acquired and compensated for. The project does not need any additional space, and therefore, there is no need to demolish any other structures.
It has become necessary to provide this clarification to assure the people of Tamale and Ghanaians that the Tamale interchange is structurally sound, intended for its purpose and will improve traffic flow in the Central Business District of Tamale and, by extension, the country.
Issued by
Public Affairs Unit
Ministry of Roads and Highways
Recent Comments