Work to a 64km section of highway in Ghana will help improve transport from the port of Tema, located to the east of capital Accra. Handling round 80% of Ghana’s seaborne trade, Tema Port is also one of the largest ports in West Africa.
However, Ghana’s Eastern Corridor has proven unable to cope with the increased traffic volumes, which is why a $297 million project is underway to improve a stretch of the route. The section between Ashaiman Roundabout and Akosombo Junction is being upgraded, with the work benefiting from some of the latest technology.
The reconstruction of this section of the Eastern Corridor is demanding, more so as it is the primary connection between the Port of Tema and Ghana’s northern regions, meaning construction has to be carried out while traffic continues to use the route.
The road is being upgraded so that instead of a single lane in either direction, it will have at least two lanes in either direction. In some stretches, the road will also have three lanes in either direction.
But space to work is limited along much of the road, with the combination of live traffic and varying ground conditions making it more of a challenge to maintain accuracy, sequencing and safety.
Ensuring work is to grade along a long, narrow and heavily used corridor has required precise control of earthworks and paving. The need to minimise reworking and material waste has been heightened by the logistical challenges of moving machinery and aggregates through busy sections. Ensuring quality across the full length of the project, despite the changing terrain and tight working windows, has been a major engineering challenge.
To maximise productivity, safety, and accuracy, contractor Inzag is using sophisticated digital construction technology from Topcon Positioning Systems. Topcon worked with Inzag to integrate systems into the project’s workflow, providing a continuous digital thread from design through to grading and paving. Two graders were equipped with Topcon’s mmGPS technology to deliver the millimetre level accuracy required for earthworks and concrete applications.
Topcon’s SmoothRide road resurfacing solution was used across the paving workflow, combining 3D design data with GNSS positioning to maintain surface quality and laying speed, even in areas where traffic flow and working space were tightly constrained.
For the survey team, the shift to a fully digital workflow has been transformative. José Pinto, surveyor at Inzag, highlighted the impact on day to day operations: “The accuracy we achieve with mmGPS has changed the way we work. It gives us confidence in every measurement, even in difficult conditions, and it reduces the time we spend checking and rechecking levels. It allows us to focus on progress rather than corrections.”
Topcon’s specialists, including Luca Nocentini, have been deeply involved in on site installation, configuration and operator training. “Our goal is always to empower the contractor, not just equip them,” said Nocentini.
“Topcon understands the realities of delivering a project of this scale,” said José Teles, project manager at Inzag. “Their technology gives us the precision we need, but it’s the consistency of their support that truly makes the difference. They don’t just provide solutions but are also on hand for any additional support.”
Using the positioning systems and workflow solutions has also influenced day to day working practices across the site, with teams embracing the new approach quickly and effectively.
When completed in late 2029, the upgraded corridor will ease congestion around Ashaiman, reduce travel times between Tema and the northern regions, and improve the reliability of freight movement into Burkina Faso, reinforcing Ghana’s position as a regional trade hub.
