Ghanaian engineers have made, perhaps the strongest case for exploring local materials in the construction industry especially for public projects.
It follows the completion of rehabilitation work on a major bridge on the Kaase-Ahowdo Road in Kumasi by the Building and Roads Research Institute (BRRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Collapse of the bridge which compelled authorities to close the busy road to traffic has been nightmarish for motorists and commuters especially in the Kaase Industrial hub.
People had to explore alternative routes, sometimes twice or three times their normal distance to and from work. It is a huge relief for road users as the road is opened to traffic.
Officials will not disclose the cost of rehabilitation of the bridge, made largely of wood and locally produced cement but they indicate it will last for 50 years.
The BRRI used timber from the Afena and Dahoma tree species which were coated with fibre glass to withstand the effect of running water.
Bolts and nuts were fabricated locally from made from local materials.
The concrete mix was made with Pozzolana cement, developed by the BRRI.
”Certain features that have been added include the insulation of the timber with fibre glass to prevent water from coming into contact with the timber to cause decay. This will prolong the life span of the bridge. We are looking at probably 50 years,” Metropolitan Roads Engineer, Nana Poku Agyemang, told Luv News.
Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu, performed the official re-opening of the Kaase-Ahodwo Road.
“This bridge was creating a lot of problems for us and people were insulting the Mayor, urban roads and even the minister. But you know we have to do something good for the people of Kumasi,” he said.
source: myjoyonline