Re-location of utility facilities along the seven-kilometre six-lane road from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to the former Neoplan Assembly Plant at Achimota have almost been completed for actual work to begin this month.

Re-location of telephone lines have been completed, 80 percent of the electricity cables had been re-located while 95 percent of the pipeline have been relocated.

These were disclosed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) by Mr Alex Twumasi-Boakye, Director of Urban Roads in an interview in Accra on when actual work on the 210-billion Cedis project would begin.

Last Month, President John Agyekum Kufuor cut the sod for work to commence on the project scheduled to be completed within 32 months. It forms part of the Accra-Kumasi road network being constructed by Taysec Limited.

Mr Twumasi-Boakye said owners of kiosks, containers and other structures along the road were directed to remove them by December 16, last year, for work to commence but the Department allowed them to operate during the Yuletide and remove them by January 5, for the contractor to mobilise and move to the site by January 13 to commence work.

He said " everything is moving on schedule and by the end of this month, Ghanaians would see actual work on the ground".

The project is being undertaken to help ease the perennial traffic within the corridor, cut down on travelling time between Accra and Kumasi and enhance the aesthetic beauty of the capital city.

Apart from the six-lane carriageway, the project would involve the creation of a new access route to the Accra Industrial Area from the north and a flyover to cater for the railway line at Alajo Junction, in addition, access road to Alajo would be constructed to solve the perennial traffic congestion.

Two pedestrian footbridges would be provided at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and Avenor, several junctions to be controlled by traffic lights would be created while walkways and cycle ways, among others, would also be provided.

Stations for tro-tros and taxis would be relocated to a new transport terminal to be constructed at the Achimota School.

Government had already paid 106.44 million cedis out of the estimated 130 million cedis in "Supplemental Assistance" to 104 out of the 131 people whose kiosks and containers would be affected by the project.

Already 22 properties whose walls would be affected by the project have been reconstructed at proposed positions and the old walls demolished with the full cooperation of the affected landlords.

Mr Twumasi-Boakye said government had made provision for the payment of a total of 1.2 Billion cedis to eight people whose properties would be substantially affected by the project.

The affected properties include the Ghana Railway Corporation Quarters at Alajo, Alhaji Sinare's building at Avenor Junction, Habib Adam's building at Achimota and the Kum Furniture Shop at Avenor Junction.

The rest are Enoch Ago Quartey at Avenor Junction, Mary Thompson at Abeka Junction, Abdulai Lamptey at Abeka Junction and the Aams Hotel at Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Meanwhile, assessment of frontage for about 60 others estimated at 8.9 Billion cedis by the Land Valuation Board is ongoing, according to a statement issued and signed by Mr Jake Obestebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs.

It said however, this is not likely to affect access to the site for construction, as the use of the affected properties have not been compromised in any way.