Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi Amoako-Atta has assured chiefs and people of Lawra in the Upper West Region that works on the Dipke Bridge will begin before 2020 ends.

The 275-metre long bridge across the Black Volta will connect the Upper West region town to their neighbours in Burkina Faso.

Lawra MP and Deputy Roads and Highways Minister Anthony Karbo told the traditional rulers and the media that there have been collaborations between local authorities from both countries to ensure smooth execution of the project.

The paramount chief of Lawra, Naa Puowelle Karbo highlighted the benefits that will be derived from the project.

According to him, the bridge will increase commercial activity in Lawra which will help with revenue generation for the people.

He said it would also make it easier to contact their relatives in Burkina Faso since they have intermarried and visit one another often to partake in festivities.

The Minister and his team also visited Bagri where the Department of Urban Roads is working on a five-kilometre road as part of the Lawra town road projects.

He then headed further north to the Nadowli-Lawra-Hamile road.

The 42.6-kilometre road is being constructed by a Lebanese Ghanaian contractor P.W. Ghanem.

Work on the project is 98 percent complete, the contractor says.

The Minister was impressed with what he saw showered commendations on the contractor.