Tandjouaré-Cinkanssé-Frontier du Burkina Faso: The work is in its normal course

The rehabilitation of the Tandjouaré-Cinkansé-Frontière section of Burkina Faso on the RN 1 Togolese does not encounter any difficulties in their execution. The widening of the platform and the strengthening of the carriageway entrusted to EBOMAF show satisfactory rates in accordance with the time consumed. This is the observation of the Ministers responsible for Finance and Public Works during their visit on 9 and 10 November on this ambitious project.

Under the expertise of EBOMAF, the Tandjouaré-Cinkansé-Frontière part of Burkina Faso on the Lomé axis began its moult under good auspices. The overall rate of completion of the work is estimated at 48%, 60% of which is for enlargement. Two members of the government reviewed this project on Friday, November 9 (Cinkanssé-Dapaong) and Saturday, November 10 (Dapaong-Tandjouaré). Adji Oteth Ayassor of Economy and Finance, Ninsao Gnofam of Public Works accompanied by a strong delegation of technicians imbued themselves, from end to end, with the reality of the field. The Directorate-General for Public Works, the supervisory mission and the contracting firm have informed the lantern of the two ministers sent by President Faure Gnassingbé to take the pool of an investment which is particularly dear to him.

From the Cinkanssé bridge which is expected to be strengthened through the bypass of the city of Cinkanssé to the enlargement and strengthening of the former section, the‘eyes'the Togolese State wanted to see everything about this work aimed at facilitating access to the Togolese maritime corridor. No details were omitted."After what I just saw, I am generally satisfied. The work responds to our understanding and the challenge of sub-regional integration in which we have embarked",Adji Oteth Ayassor, Minister of Economy and Finance, is delighted.

Prints of a Public Works Leader

EBOMAF put the little dishes in the big ones to win this other challenge. A few blocks away from Dapaong, its new base welcomes the bituminous and coated concrete plants as well as an impressive fleet of vehicles. Two crushing stations and the concrete plant are already in operation. A company-specific geotechnical laboratory also supports the project. Bulldozers continue enlargement and earth-moving activities while dump trucks are in order to bring the different layers. While the dalots and culverts are being scaled, the equipment required to erect the thirty (30) metre bridge in Timbou is already being deployed.

The construction site that follows its normal course consists of widening the road to nine (9) metres with landings of 1.50 m on both sides. It also involves reconstructing the cement-enhanced foundation layer, putting a base layer in a ten-centimetre, 65-km thick bitumen with a bitumen concrete bearing layer."We are currently in the phase of enlargement and input of the foundation layer for cement floor. The bitumen will start soon. As the monitoring mission pointed out, the work already carried out represents a completion rate of approximately 48%",says Mahamadou Bonkoungou, CEO of EBOMAF SA. Same view on the part of the supervision of the works."The construction site has progressed normally since the start of work. There are no major problems to report. Except that the assessment of changes and optimizations requires prior authorisation from the administration. The implementation rate is now estimated at about 48 per cent. The most difficult part for this project is the enlargement of the platform, which so far records more than 60%. Then follow the different layers of carriageway",confirms Kalifa Bamba, head of the CIRA control mission.

Minister Gnofam wants to take responsibility

Despite this great momentum in the execution of the work, the successful contractor still faces some difficulties which have been brought to the attention of the ministers. They are summarized in‘Movement of fibre optics in Bombouaka and lowering of fibre optics in Tandjouaré, Bombouaka, Dapaong and at customs level in Cinkanssé',to the"freezing of the right-of-way: dwellings and buildings in the right-of-way at the level of the agglomerations",to"moving electrical and hydraulic networks in the right-of-way",to the"Administrative confirmation of project improvements".They constitute a set of corrections, additional or complementary tasks. Another disturbing point of the timing, the question of the slope to PK 00 of the site. The studies recorded in the file were expected to be 7%, while obviously less than 5%.

Mistakes that Minister Gnofam promises no longer to tolerate at the study office."The responsibility of the study offices is here engaged. The administration does not always pay attention to their services which are essential to the erection of the work. We are going to be much more looking to avoid being made and to be confronted with such inconveniences. Inconsistencies in the design offices detract from the quality of the works. (...). From the outset, anathema is thrown on the state or enterprise by pushing, horn and horn, bad governance or incompetence of ministers, accusing the administration of laxism. However, the basis of the studies was distorted from the outset. When it appears at the beginning of the work of RN 1 (Tandjouaré-Cinkanssé) that the slope is too steep because it is at 7% and it must be reduced to less than 5%, this is, somewhere, a real laxity. How the study offices were able to cover up this aspect which is not in the original file. To go from 7% to less than 5%, the company is obliged to present a new offer because it is complementary work".the head of the Department of Public Works. While showing his satisfaction, he urged the company to stay on course and promised to submit his concerns to whom it was entitled so that they would be promptly resolved for an unhindered progress of the yard.

JE/AB