Flower Pot interchange will ease traffic, but congestion may persist – Urban Roads director

President Akufo-Addo is set to commission the Flower Pot Interchange, a major infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity between the northern and southern sections of the Accra-Tema Motorway.

While the interchange is expected to bring significant benefits, Director of Urban Roads, James Amoo Gottfried, has cautioned that it may not entirely resolve the congestion in the area.

Constructed by China Railway Engineering Ghana, the 802-meter dual carriageway includes a state-of-the-art overpass at the Spintex Road Flower Pot roundabout.

The interchange is anticipated to ease traffic flow in high-density areas such as Cantonments, Burma Camp, East Legon, and Spintex, significantly reducing travel times.

However, Mr. Gottfried emphasized the need for additional measures to address congestion, particularly near Cantonments and the Giffard Road Interchange.

He noted that plans are underway to create new exits and traffic dispersal routes to manage the increased vehicle volumes. “We also realize that with the efficiency it is likely to bring, we will still face congestion, particularly at the Cantonments edge,” he said.

“We are preparing the ground to move into Cantonments and facilitate the dispersion of traffic. Our studies show that many vehicles approaching the Giffard Road interchange typically make a right turn, then a left into Cantonments.”

He continued, “To ease the congestion, we plan to create another exit at ground level at the overpass, which will directly lead into Cantonments. This is necessary because we anticipate heavy congestion due to the increased speed with which vehicles from East Legon and beyond will reach that area.”