Adomi Bridge

The Adomi Bridge carries the road across the Volta at Atimpoku, a suspended deck hung from a single steel arch of 245 metres, designed in Britain and opened in 1957, the year of Ghana's independence. It was for decades the only bridge across the lower Volta and remains the main crossing on the route east from Accra toward Ho and the Volta Region. The arch is best seen from the riverbank below or from the road approaches rather than from the deck itself. Atimpoku beneath it is known for roadside sellers of abolo, a steamed corn bread, and one-man-thousand, a fried whole fish, sold to passing vehicles. Boats run from the bank for short river trips.

History

In 1953 it was decided to bridge the Volta to replace the overloaded ferry at Senchi, where delays could last days, and surveys found a good site for a single span at a narrow neck of the river at Adomi, upstream of the ferry and near the planned Volta dam. That autumn Sir William Halcrow & Partners were appointed to run the project and design the approaches, with Freeman Fox & Partners designing the arch; tenders followed a year later, and by January 1955 the contracts were settled and construction staff began to arrive, with Dorman Long building the bridge (Wikipedia, Adomi Bridge).

What's there

• The steel arch - the single 245-metre span over the river.
• The Volta below - the wide river between the bridge piers.
• Atimpoku roadside stalls - abolo and fried fish sold to passing traffic.
• River boats - the short trips run from the bank.

When to go

November to March for the dry season. Late afternoon light suits photographs of the arch from the bank. Traffic across the bridge is heaviest at weekends and holidays.

Things to know

Photography from the bridge itself is restricted and has caused problems with security personnel; shoot from the banks. There is no viewing area or facility. Traffic on the approaches is fast and pedestrian space is narrow. Roadside vendors are persistent.

Nearby

Akosombo and the Volta dam lie upstream; Ho is east.

Key facts