Preparatory works towards the rehabilitation of the Adomi Bridge at Atimpoku in the Asuogyaman District began on Wednesday. Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways, said in a speech read on his behalf that the rehabilitation works had two Phases. Phase one involves survey or engineering studies while phase two involves the physical rehabilitation of the bridge. According to him, the engineering studies were being funded with a grant of Euros 80,000 from the Austrian government. The Austrian government has also provided 12.4 million Euros as loan for the rehabilitation of the bridge. Mr Gidisu said it was expected that the engineering studies would be completed in about two months and by the fourth quarter of the year, the actual rehabilitation works should start. Messrs MCE Stahl and Maschinenbau and Schindelar ZT GmbH, both of Austria, are the engineering firms undertaking the engineering studies and later the rehabilitation works. He said when the rehabilitation works start, the bridge would be completely shut down to traffic but ferry services would be re-launched at Senchi as an alternative route for motorists and commuters. During the survey works, there will be an alternating system of closing the bridge. It will however be opened to traffic after 1800 hours each day. Alternative routes to use are the Asikuma-Ho-Adidome-Sokakope Road and the Ho- Denu -Sogakope Road. Empty and loaded vehicles weighing below five tons may use the route over the Kpong Dam during the closures of the bridge. Mr Gidisu said the rehabilitation works when completed would enable the Ministry to lift restrictions on axle loads and to fully restore services to the travelling public. He said the bridge, which was built in 1956/57, formed a strategic link in the trunk road network in Ghana. It connects a substantial part of the Volta and Northern regions and part of the Eastern Region to the rest of the country, thereby facilitating trade and regional integration. However, due to increased overloading by heavy goods vehicles over the years, the bridge developed cracks in its transverse beams in 2008. Mr Gidisu said the situation has compelled the Ministry to arrange and repair of the cracks. Source: GNA