A road construction consultant, Ing. Kwabena Bempong, has called for better planning of road construction projects, particularly during the rainy season, saying it is critical to preventing flood-related damage and reducing disruptions on major highways.
Speaking with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, July 13, Ing. Bempong noted that while such challenges are common on many road projects, the long-term solution lies in careful planning.
He stressed that major road construction should, as much as possible, be scheduled outside the rainy season.
“The whole solution for me is all about planning. We as engineers would want to plan to ensure that you do not even undertake certain major construction during the rainy season because during the rainy season, it’s very, very difficult,” he stated.
He explained that the challenge is even greater when construction is carried out on roads that remain open to traffic.
Citing ongoing projects on the Accra-Winneba Road, the Ofankor-Nsawam Road and the Motorway, Ing. Bempong said road works on busy highways during the rainy season create significant difficulties for motorists.
“All the roads… are under construction, and it poses quite a lot of challenges for the motoring public,” he added.
He said effective drainage planning remains one of the most important aspects of road construction.
“In engineering, there are three enemies, and the three are all water, water, water,” he said.
According to him, engineers always seek to provide adequate drainage systems to prevent water from damaging road infrastructure.
“In constructing roads, one of the first things that you would want to do is to provide or attempt to provide adequate drainage,” he explained.
He said where permanent drainage infrastructure is not immediately available, engineers often construct cross culverts to channel water away from road surfaces.
“We’ll be constructing especially cross culverts to ensure that the water from the sides of the road does not get onto the road,” he said.
His comments come in the wake of the nationwide clean-up exercise ordered by President John Dramani Mahama following recent floods that claimed lives, displaced residents and submerged homes in several parts of the country.
The exercise, held on Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, saw the President, government officials and members of the public desilt drains, clear choked gutters and clean streets in affected communities.
