Accra, June 30, GNA - Dr. Richard Anane, Minister of Road Transport on Thursday said works on the Tema - Ashaiman Motorway Flyover project has not been delayed and that the contract period has been extended to the end of September 2005. He said the reason for the delay was that, 13 of the beams were cast with faulty reinforcement details, and the contractor was asked to recast them at his own cost leading to the extension of the completion date.

The Minister said as a result the Department of Urban Roads has been directed to withhold any payments due the consultant for the delayed period. Dr. Anane, Minister of Road Transport, said this in Parliament on Thursday in an answer to a question by Mr. Alfred Kwame Agbesi, NDC MP for Ashaiman on what has caused the long delay in the completion of work on the Tema-Ashaiman motorway flyover. He said the original design to provide a flyover for direct movement between Ashaiman and Tema was reviewed to convert the overpass into an interchange.

"This would allow traffic from Ashaiman and Tema to Accra to have direct access to the motorway thereby reduce the congestion at the motorway round-about in Tema. "The change will also allow motorists from Accra to Ashaiman and Tema to use this facility." Dr. Anane said the cost of the project, which includes rehabilitation of some roads in Sekondi and the Manhean road in Tema, was 17,314,634.46 Euros and is being funded by Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD) of France.

The contractor is Messrs Tonitra and the supervising consultant is Messrs Ingerop Africa of South Africa in association with ABP Consult of Ghana. On the maintenance and tarring of some roads in Ashaiman, Dr. Anane said the Department of Urban Roads with the support of the Tema Municipal Assembly has drawn up a programme for the construction and maintenance of the roads. The roads include the Official Town/Christian Village, Jericho, Ashaiman New Town and Lebanon.

The Minister said the Official/Christian Village roads have been programmed for upgrading under the 2006 programme but would continue to receive routine maintenance. He said routine and maintenance works were carried out on the Jericho roads last year and that the Ashaiman New Town and Lebanon roads would also receive maintenance works with drainage and gravel works completed. Sealing works have been programmed for 2006. Dr. Anane said the Ministry would continue to collaborate with the Tema Municipal Assembly to prioritise these roads for upgrading in the coming years.