Accra (Greater Accra) 23 June '99

The Department of Feeder Roads is conducting tests on a number of chemicals for their possible use in sealing roads in a bid to cut down cost.

Consequently, the Ministry of Road and Transport is awaiting the outcome of the tests in order to take a firm decision on the application of the chemicals in road construction.

Mr Steve Akorli, Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport announced this in Parliament on Tuesday during "question time".

He explained that the cost of tarring a kilometre of road ranges between 250 million cedis and one billion cedis, depending on the nature and condition, whether it is urban or rural and the type of finishing.

On the Ministry's plans to reshape the Juaso-Obogu-Nkyesa road that links Ashanti to Eastern Region, Mr Akorli said under a three-year programme, the Ministry would, through the Department of Feeder Roads, rehabilitate and improve the road.

He said the source of funding of roads of this nature is through the road fund, which was established only last year and as such, not much is available to cover every feeder road project.

The Deputy Minister explained that the Ministry has thus prioritised the road projects, depending on their socio-economic importance.

Answering another question, Mr Akorli said the 15-kilometre Behwe Junction-Amantena-Wuraponso feeder road in the Asante Akim South District would be considered for tarring next year, subject to availability of funds.

However, the Ministry is in the process of awarding on contract next month, the reshaping of portions that have made the road almost impassable.

Asked if the Ministry would consider replacing the old and weak wooden bridges on the road with concrete ones, Mr Akorli said in the interest of saving life and property, the request would be studied and the appropriate action taken.

On the tarring of the Konongo-Dwease-Praaso feeder road, in the Asante Akim North District, the Deputy Minister said some rehabilitation work was done on the road last year.

He told the questioner, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante Akim North, that currently, the Department of Feeder Roads is conducting studies on the road and assured him that the Ministry hopes to secure external funding to tar the road.

Mr Baah-Wiredu asked whether it is not possible for the Ministry to use 2.5 billion cedis out of the 105 billion cedis allocated to the department for the tarring.



Asked when the 14.8-kilometre Agona-Effiduase road in Afigya Sekyere East in the Ashanti Region would be tarred, Mr Akorli said this would be undertaken under the second phase of the highway sector improvement project due in 2000.