The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) Bridge Maintenance Unit has begun the replacement of corroded bolts in the tunnel connecting Tema Community 18 to Borteyman.
The replacement was to prevent the bridge, which lies beneath the Accra Motorway from collapsing, following the theft of about 1,400 of the 2,000 bolts holding the bridge to the motorway concrete.
The assessment revealed that the missing bolts had compromised the structural integrity of the bridge, making it vulnerable if not promptly repaired.
To facilitate the bolt replacement, the tunnel was temporarily closed to traffic.
Principal Engineer at the Bridge Division of GHA, Aaron Nana Amponsah, underlined the importance of the bolts and emphasized the potential separation of the motorway if it were to fall.
He stressed that due to increased vibrations brought on by the motorway’s large axle loads, the tunnel’s construction has become even more vulnerable.
“The bridge’s stability has been impacted by a pool that has formed around it as a result of blocked waterways,” he lamented.
According to him, the new fasteners are being welded onto the corrugated metals to make them more difficult to remove to prevent further theft.
He added that concrete work has been done around the bridge basin to avoid water buildup and redirected watercourses have been funnelled into a nearby storm drain.
Mr Amponsah explained that concrete works have been done around the bridge basin to prevent water from pooling there.
The bolt-stealing incident was discovered recently following an assessment of the bridge which showed signs of imminent danger.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
