Traffic Signals Destroyed; Motorists, Pedestrians In Danger

A traffic light on the Mpamprom intersection on the Kaneshie road that was destroyed in a motor accident about half a decade ago has not been replaced, thus exposing motorists and pedestrians to danger. Ironically, the danger zone is right behind the Accra Metropolitan Office of the Department of Urban Roads. When The Mirror visited the Acting Accra Metropolitan Roads Engineer, Mr Benjamin Kusi Adoma, in his office at Kaneshie on Monday, December 23, to find out what had caused the delay in replacing the fallen traffic light, he said he was not aware that �the very important� warning signal had been knocked down and taken away by unknown persons. He immediately called one of his lieutenants and together with this reporter, visited the spot where the warning light used to be. He confessed that though the �missing� traffic light used to stand at the intersection right behind his office, he and his officers had not noticed its absence. It was also observed that the intersection had no zebra crossing as the wiped-out road marks on the entire Accra-Mallam road had not been redone, exposing motorists and pedestrians to more hazard. When this reporter questioned the engineer about the numerous broken down road furniture (traffic light, railings, bollards etc.) in the city of Accra, he said his office was aware of some of them but was unable to repair or replace them due to lack of funds. He, however, pointed out that the department of urban roads had embarked on an exercise to identify them and replace or repair them under an upcoming traffic management project being sponsored by the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), (The French Development Agency). The works will involve junction improvement at selected intersections, road line markings and installation of signs in Accra. There will also be junction improvement works at selected intersections in the Tema Metropolis, Ga West District and the La, Nkwantanang and Adenta Municipalities. The Mirror also found out that contractors had actually been invited through the Wednesday, December 18 edition of the Daily Graphic to submit bids for the contract, which is expected to be awarded this month (January, 2014). According to Mr Adoma, works were expected to begin immediately after the contract had been awarded and would be completed in about six months. The project will cover about 38 major roads. The Metropolitan Roads Engineer said there would be asphalt overlay and curb rearrangement on some roads while some roads might be completely redesigned. He reminded motorists that destroying road furniture attracted a fine and appealed to the police to help arrest motorists who knocked them down, as well as the scrap dealers who stole them. A policewoman on duty at Mpamprom, who pleaded anonymity, complained that the numerous faulty and broken down traffic lights and the absence of road markings and other signals on the city�s roads made traffic control very difficult. She charged the Metropolitan Roads Engineer and his team to expedite the traffic management works to make traffic control easier and also prevent accidents on the roads.