Takoradi, July 12, GNA - The government has awarded the 81-kilometre Apimenim/Elubo highway on contract for routine maintenance at the cost of 1.8 billion cedis, Mr Samuel Akuaku, Western Regional Maintenance Engineer of the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), told the GNA in an interview on Monday.

The contract, which was awarded about three months ago, would involve mainly pothole patching and other works.

Mr Akuaku said actual work on the road started in May and that the portion of the road from Axim Junction to Elubo is asphalted while from Apimenin to Axim junction has surface dressing. He said the condition of the last 15 kilometers of the road that ends at Elubo has deteriorated in the past few months and remedial works would be done on it.

Mr Akuaku said the GHA has taken inventory of the Apimenin-Elubo road and submitted proposals for its re-construction but this would take sometime for the proposals to be approved because of the requirements of the Procurement Law.

On July 07, articulated drivers blocked the Takoradi/Elubo highway with their vehicles to draw attention to the deplorable nature of portions of the road that had been the cause of several accidents. They ended the blockade almost 24 hours later after holding talks with government officials who assured them of efforts being made to repair the road. 12 July 05