Roads Minister urges speedy construction of Yapei bridge

Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza has urged contractors to speed up work on the construction of a new bridge on the Yapei river in the Western Gonja district.

The Yapei Bridge is a steel bridge over the White Volta in Yapei, of the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region of Ghana.

It is one of two bridges at Buipe and Yapei on the stretch that crosses the Black Volta and the White Volta respectively.

The bridges serve as a link for commuters, especially heavy-duty vehicles that transport goods from the southern part of the country to not only the northern part of the country but also to the Sahelian countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

However, the bridge constructed in the mid-1960s has outlived its 50 years life span and was closed down over dilapidation in 2017.

But contract was awarded in October 2024 for an entire construction of 240 meters long bridge.

The Minister while touring ongoing works on the bridge on Friday, April 11 expressed confidence in the contractors to execute the project timely before the major raining season starts.

Kwame Agbodza was impressed with the work done so far, expressing optimism that the construction of the bridge will be completed on time.

“The bridge has outlived its life span and it is failing, indeed not too long ago, some works needed to be done to keep it going. The speed of the construction of this is very important. The bridge ought to be completed before the major rains start otherwise no work can be done.

“What we have seen so far is good progress but the truth is the contractor did not raise a certificate which has not been honoured. We want to thank the contractor because an amount of money has gone into this, they have paid so far and we also notice that work pace is beginning to pick especially the sub structure work.

“We are hopeful that this one will be completed on time…the people in this area should be rest assured that this bridge will be completed in time and to give them the fear that the old one will collapse and then cut off. God willing it will not happen,” he stated.

An amount of $188 million is being expended for the four bridges; Yapei, Buipe, Daboya and Nawuni. Maripoma enterprise, local contractors are contractors for the four bridges.

The post Roads Minister urges speedy construction of Yapei bridge first appeared on 3News.

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