Use footbridges for intended purposes

THE continuous use of the footbridges in the Accra metropolis for commercial and other human activities poses serious threat to its longevity, since such practices quickens the deterioration of the facility.
Residents for whom the footbridges were constructed in the metropolis have rather resorted to selling on the bridges and dumping of refuse on the various footbridges, particularly those at Kaneshie. These unintended activities, therefore, compel the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to undertake a periodic maintenance of the footbridges every two years.
The Director in charge of Bridges at the GHA, Mr Peter Dagadu, who was sharing his thoughts with the Daily Graphic on the state of the footbridges in Accra, bemoaned the continued refusal of the public to use the footbridges for the intended purpose, but rather dangerously used unapproved ways of crossing the roads at their peril.
He said the bigger footbridge at Kaneshie underwent repair works last December, whilst the smaller bridge was expected to undergo an emergency repair works before the end of this year.
According to him, major maintenance works were done five years ago, involving the replacement of the metal decks with concrete slacks to strengthen them.
He said that the footbridge at Kwashieman was maintained last year, but that all those periodic inspections were carried out on them to avoid any defects.
Mr Dagadu indicated that Accra, hitherto, had four footbridges located that at Nima; St Johns, Achimota; two at Kaneshie, and one at Legon, but those at St Johns and Legon, which were not serving the intended purpose were eventually demolished last year to allow for the construction of four footbridges on the Achimota-Nsawam road and the construction of a six-lane traffic on the Legon road.
He said he had been inundated with demands from respectable persons to have the Nima footbridge removed, because it was not serving its intended purpose. He gave cited some of the complaints as using the bridge during ungodly hours for immoral activities.
Mr Dagadu, however, explained that officials from the GHA would be dispatched to conduct a surveillance on the facility, after which a final decision would be taken on whether or not it should be removed.
While calling on Ghanaians to make use of the footbridges provided to avoid being in conflict with moving vehicles, he appealed to those who had turned the footbridges into marketplaces to stop doing business on them in order to prolong their lifespan for the benefit of the populace.