Seven years after the tragic Atomic Junction gas explosion and fire disaster in Accra, the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has announced that long-overdue maintenance works on the Atomic Bridge (N4) will finally commence.
The explosion, which occurred in 2017, caused significant infrastructural damage in the area and led to concerns about safety and the structural integrity of the surrounding roads and bridges.
According to a statement issued by GHA, they plan to carry out essential repairs and improvements on the bridge, which will involve traffic interruptions for 20 days starting on Thursday, 3rd October, and ending on Tuesday, 22nd October 2024 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. each day.
This maintenance work is crucial to ensure the safety and longevity of the bridge, particularly for the thousands of commuters who rely on it daily.
The bridge, which serves as a major route for commuters traveling between Accra and the Eastern Region, will experience interruptions as the authority works to improve its structural integrity and safety.
Despite the heavy traffic that the bridge handles daily, the delayed maintenance has increased the risk for commuters. Issues such as visible cracks, wear and tear, and weakened support structures pose serious dangers, especially given the high volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Another bridge that requires immediate attention is the Achimota interchange, which engineers have described as disaster waiting to happen.
“The Ghana Highway Authority, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Roads and Highways (MRH), wishes to inform the general public that scheduled maintenance will be carried out on the expansion joints on the Atomic Bridge (N4) as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure road safety and infrastructure integrity. As a result, there would be traffic interruptions,” the statement read.
The 2017 disaster, which caused widespread damage and loss of life, prompted calls for better safety measures and infrastructure improvements, and this maintenance project marks a significant step in addressing those concerns.
Motorists are advised to follow traffic management instructions that will be put in place during this period, including diversions and possible alternative routes to minimize congestion. Road users are advised to plan their journeys accordingly to avoid potential delays.
The maintenance is part of ongoing efforts to ensure that key infrastructure remains functional and safe for public use.
