Improving Road Quality And Lifespan

Do you not wonder why some roads in your country are so old yet are better than others?

Your observation is not too odd. Many people have observed same.  I will lament this situation with examples from Ghana.

When my family moved to Tamale 11 years have passed. The roads in Tamale township have not seen any significant repairs, at least not that I have witnessed. Occasionally though, a few spots get parched up. Currently, almost all the roads in Tamale Township which I have used since elementary school are well motor able. The road linking Bolga to Tamale is not bad either though it is quite old.

However the situation has not been the same for the roads that link Techiman, Kumasi and Tamale.  These roads have for a long time been ‘decorated’ with potholes.  The road linking Accra, the capital city, to Nsawam and Nkawkaw is not just decorated but dressed in potholes. Same can be observed on the roads that link Agona Swedru to Nsaba, Oda; Bolga to Bawku, and many other communities in Ghana.

What baffles me in all these is the fact that most roads within townships last longer than roads that lie on the outskirts.

Two questions come to mind. The first is: why is it so? And the second, what can we do about it?

I hardly am able to find any answers to the first question and it remains a puzzle to me. Township roads are busier than other roads; at least it is a testable assertion. Every heavy/big vehicle uses the outskirt roads, since they are often commercial and necessarily travel out of town. All the heavy vehicles that pass on outskirt roads also pass through the township roads. Not all the small vehicles that move in the town go to the outskirts, since many of them are for private use and are not used for long distance travels.  By this simple analysis it is obvious that township roads are busier, and bear more ‘weights’ than the ‘outskirt’ roads. However, in Ghana these township roads are in better shape and seems to last longer than the outskirt roads. The questions then is asked, why is it so?

To the second question, what can we do about it?

It is hard to find solutions to a problem you do not understand. But this problem has to be solved anyway! But after some thought I came to a few possible preventive measures.

Can we not say that the constructions are not properly done? If we agree that this is a possible factor, then, going forward there should be clauses in road construction contracts that will seek warranty from the construction companies. So that for instance, the construction company undertakes that should the road not last a certain number of years they will be responsible for subsequent repair works. If this is done, construction companies that carelessly use inferior materials and methods will be restrained from using inferior materials and methods.

Also, is it not possible that the authorities who award/finance the constructions do not allocate enough financing to ensure quality work? Well, it is appropriate, and in the nation’s interest that the roads be in good quality, no matter the cost we should incur! After 55yrs of independence, our nation is still constructing basic economic and social amenities, and more so spending resources on constructing inferior ones and reconstructing them at higher costs.

Furthermore, maintenance is of high essence, proper maintenance is apt to forestall quick deterioration of roads. Governmental organisations, have not won my confidence (watch out for my article on civil service inefficiency). I therefore believe maintenance should be left to private road construction firms or better still to the very companies who constructed them, that is, include maintenace contracts in the construction agreements/contracts.

In addition, we need to regard the importance of roads in our lives. They are used for business travels and carting commercial goods, travel for health and social purposes among others. These cannot be underestimated since the life of all humanity in modern times depends so much on how much travels they or others make. It is therefore a primary amenity of contemporary society and should not be regarded any less. 

Do you think of any possible causes or solutions? Or of any other angle from which we can view this situation? Please share with us in the form of a comment below.

Meanwhile watch out for more articles.  There are many issues to be discussed.  Answer the question in the left panel to inform me on what issues you will like to read more about.

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