A one-way scheme aimed at easing traffic in and around the Central Business District (CBD) of Accra will be operational from June 12, this year. The introduction of the scheme, according to officials of the Department of Urban Roads (DUR), is also to improve road safety in Accra Business District. After the introduction, motorists heading towards Korle-Bu, for instance, would have to turn onto the Asafoatse Nertey Road and head straight towards the Korle-Lagoon Road, near the Timber Market. Once on the Korle-Lagoon road, motorists going towards Korle-Bu can then turn at Zion Junction to Korle- Bu whilst those going towards Chorkor or Osu also have the option of driving further along the Korle-Lagoon road and then turn to the right towards Chorkor, Mamprobi and other areas in the western part of Accra. Those who will turn to the left will also be heading towards Osu. At an inspection exercise to assess the level of preparedness for the introduction of the scheme, the officer in charge of road safety at the DUR, Mrs. Pat Ony, explained that there were a few minor works to be undertaken to make the scheme fully operational. The street parking in front of the Ghana Post Office will be affected by the scheme and according to Mrs. Ony, letters had already been sent to the AMA for it to take the necessary action. According to her, traffic signalisation on some intersections were yet to begin while improvement works on some junctions were also yet to be completed. Those challenges notwithstanding, officials of the DUR said, the scheme would become operational on June 12 with officials of the Motor, Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service assisting in the implementation. The introduction will, however, be preceded by a vigorous sensitisation programme which includes a community durbar at Ga Mashie, animation showing the new routes on television as well as the distribution of flyers and display of posters. The inspection was led by the- Acting Director of the DUR, Dr Daniel Darku, the Metropolitan Roads Engineer of Accra, Mr Abass Awolu, and the Development Engineer of the DUR, Mr Akwasi Nuamah and the Road Safety Officer, Mrs. Pat Ony. They were accompanied by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alexander Obeng, in charge of Education and Research and Inspector Simon Tenkuu, the Public Relations Officer of the MTTU. The introduction of the One-way scheme has become necessary due to the heavy vehicular congestion on the High Street even after the expansion and reconstruction of the road. officials of the DUR expect the one-way scheme to impact positively on vehicular flow on the High Street once it becomes operational. Mr Kofi Yankah, the media consultant in charge of publicity, told the Daily Graphic that preparation for the sensitisation programme had already been made and would begin immediately. According to him, although the system was not complicated like other schemes which had been introduced in Accra, it was important to get motorists to fully understand the scheme in order to reduce the inconveniences that would be caused by the scheme. ASP Obeng indicated that Police personnel would be deployed to assist in the implementation of the scheme over a period of time to ensure a smooth transition from the old to the new system. He said one-way schemes when well planned had the potential of easing vehicular congestion considerably. Source: Daily Graphic