Akroso (E/R), Aug. 25 GNA - The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has developed a new road building technology - primer sealing and surface dressing - for improved economy and durability.

The technology, which was developed in Australia, involves a three-stage application of pre-coated chipping or aggregates of 10 - 14 - 10 millimetres diameter, surface dressing with bitumen and rolling over with pneumatic tyre-rollers.

The Deputy Chief Executive of GHA in charge of maintenance, Mr Samuel Nunoo, on Wednesday led a team of directors and engineers of the authority from six regions to inspect the application of the technology by Messrs SONITRA, on the 30-kilometre Eshiem - Akim Oda road.

Road Technology Briefing newsmen at Akroso, Mr Nunoo explained that the new technology has many advantages over the current one.

"It involves the use of smaller sized aggregates, which give better surface texture, minimises loss of chipping and impacts well to check pot-hole creation and skidding of vehicles."

He said so far, 32 contractors, engineers and consultants have been introduced to the new technology by Mr Grey Dewes of SMEC International of Australia, initiators of the technology.

Mr Nunoo said that it has been applied on some selected road works at Ho, Adomi Bridge, Kwabenya-Atomic Energy and Takwa-Bogosu.

Mr Dewes, said the new technology was economically suitable for developing countries like Ghana, since it optimises scarce resources and the roads lasts for more than seven years before requiring any rehabilitation.

Mr Kweku Atakow Diafo, Resident Engineer of the consultants of the project, said it would cost about 4.2 billion cedis with a foreign component of 4.9 million dollars being provided by the World Bank.

SONITRA started work in May and are expected to complete the job well ahead of the nine-month scheduled.