Obuasi, May 30, GNA - The Department of Urban Roads has set up a Roads Unit at the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to address the deplorable conditions of roads and other related works within the municipality. The Unit has drawn up a programme of work for the year, under which five roads will soon be graded to open up those areas.

They include Kwabenakwa-Nyamesomyede-Diawoso, Mensahkrom-Koffikrom-Bogobri, Circuit Court-Tutuka-Nyamebekyere, Kunka-Industrial Area-Akaporiso and Pomposo-Gausu Extension roads. Mr Joseph Kwadwo Boampong, acting Municipal Chief Executive, who announced these at a general assembly meeting at Obuasi, said about 50 kilometres of roads would be graded and that tenders for the execution of the projects had already been opened.

He said some other roads would be upgraded with double sealing with bitumen, whilst drainage works would also be carried out on some of the roads. He named the Municipal Assembly road to the Obuasi Secondary/Technical, roads in the Tutuka community and Bryant Mission road as areas where drainage works would be done and with the Kwabrafoso roads partially reconstructed.

In addition, the Unit had contracted Facol Roads Limited to install the second traffic lights in the municipality at Kunka Junction. Mr Boampong said pedestrian guardrails and handrails would be erected in the Central Business District of the municipality. As part of improving traffic management in the area, crash barriers and road signs would be undertaken with by-lanes constructed at selected areas to make way for easy stopping for vehicles for passengers to alight.

Mr Boampong added that the Unit had also been tasked to conduct periodic pothole patching as well as the cutting of the grass on the shoulders of the roads. He expressed the hope that with the setting up of the Roads Unit, the Assembly was going to get its fair share of the national cake in the area of roads construction and maintenance.