Construction of spectacular road junction with four levels

As a section of the Central Corridor infrastructure project, the Pokuase interchange in Ghana is of considerable economic importance for the West African country on the Gulf of Guinea. And MC-Bauchemie Ghana was able to make a considerable contribution to the construction of the spectacular road junction with its four levels.

Pokuase is a vibrant suburb of Ghanaʼs capital Accra. It is known for a mix of lively shops, bars, restaurants and a market, and is also popular with tourists. On the periphery of the district, the Pokuase interchange has become a central hub for several major highways that connect Greater Accra with the emerging regions in the northwest of the country and elsewhere. Underneath the interchange run eight lanes as well as the Mass Rapid Transit local rail transport system and other railways. The construction project cost about 100 million dollars and was financed by the African Development Bank and the government of Ghana. The state infrastructure agency Urban Roads was advised by Associated Consultants Ltd. as planners, and Zhongmei Engineering Company Ltd. of Nanchang, China, was contracted for the construction work, the execution of which ran from May 2018 to July 2021. The cantilever construction method was used for the first time ever in Ghana for Level 4 of the interchange.

 

MC Ghana supplies extensive product range

The concrete admixtures required for the concretes of this large-scale construction – used in the bridge piers, ramps, planks, carriageways, etc. – were supplied by MC Ghana. Of key importance in the order award were the modern concrete laboratory of MC in Accra, MC’s concrete technology support and, last but not least, the local availability of the required building materials, which are all extensively produced in Accra. For example, various concrete admixtures were used in the construction of the motorway interchange, including the superplasticisers MC-PowerFlow 2695 and Muraplast FK 39, the setting retarder Centrament Retard 370 and the accelerator Centrament Rapid 600.

MC superplasticisers deliver top performance

Above all, MC-PowerFlow 2695 impressed in every respect, with all expectations fulfilled.  The high-performance superplasticiser based on the latest MC polymer technology produces stable, segregation-free concretes over the entire consistency range. It acts quickly and ensures long-lasting liquefaction and high early strengths as well as high-quality concrete surfaces and high final strength values.  The grouting mortar Emcekrete HP as well as the PCC concrete replacement Nafufill KM 250 were also used, as were the products of the Mycoflex system for joint sealing. The interchange was opened in the summer of 2021 and has since helped to reduce congestion in the increasingly prosperous region while enhancing road safety and general mobility in Ghana.

 

Project manager expresses gratitude to MC

“The Pokuase Interchange is an extremely important transport infrastructure and a masterpiece of civil engineering in Ghana,” says Kwabena G. Bempong, Vice President (Business Development) at Associated Consultants Ltd. and Resident Engineer for the project, adding: “We are grateful for the professional support provided by MC-Bauchemie Ghana throughout the project.”