President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday cut the sod for reconstruction work to start on the 10.3 kilometre Komfo Anokye Hospital-Abuakwa road, one of the major arterial roads in Kumasi, at a cost of 732 billion cedis. The project involves widening of the existing two-lane single carriageway into a dual carriageway with walkways and Bus Rapid Transit facilities, construction of two interchanges, five underpass bridges and landscaping. Chinese Contractors, Messrs China Geo Engineering Corporation, is undertaking the job, which is being financed wholly by the Government. It is scheduled for completion within three years. President Kufuor said by constructing this road, the Government was implementing its major policy of road infrastructural development to open up all parts of the country. He said he has instructed that it should be served with electricity. Properties, which were going to be affected by the project, he said, had been identified and gave assurance that payment of compensation would soon begin. He therefore entreated property owners to co-operate with the authorities to ensure its timely completion. President Kufuor also told the Contractors and officials involved in the project’s supervision to observe good work ethic in order to produce the highest quality of work on schedule. The road is used by an average of 24,000 vehicles a day and at peak periods, average travel speed reduces to less than 10 kilometres per hour on congested sections, something, the reconstruction is meant to check. Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, the Majority Leader and acting Minister of Transportation, said by easing traffic congestion and facilitating free movement of goods, services and people, Government would be creating the environment to unleash the economic capacities of the people for wealth creation and growth. He said the Government was determined to develop the infrastructure of the Metropolis to a level that would enhance the development of Kumasi as a modern city. Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, hoped the Contractors would apply deep sense of hard work and urgency in the execution of the project. Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, the Mamponhene, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, said the people were grateful to the Government for the project. He however, appealed to President Kufuor to ensure that all development projects planned to give the Metropolis a deserving face-lift were implemented.Source: GNA