TABLE OF CONTENT

1.0 DUTIES AND POWERS OF;

 THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING OF GHANA

 THE LANDS COMMISION OF GHANA

2.0 A MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT WORK IS TO TAKE PLACE AT ACCRA,

OBETSEBI LAMPTEY CIRCLE AND KOJO THOMPSON ROAD. THE PROJECTS

CONSIST OF INTERCHANGES AND INTERSECTION RESPECTIVELY.

DISCUSSION ON

 FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT INTERSECTION DESIGN

 DESIGN PROVISION FOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM, PEDESTRIANS SAFETY FOR

INTERSECTION

 CRASHES AND EFFECTIVE SAFETY FACTORSE WITHIN INTERCHANGES AND

RAMPS

 BASIC DESIGN CRITERIA FOR INTERCHANGES SUCH AS;

1. DESIGN SPEED

2. DESIGN VEHICLES

3. STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE

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DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING OF GHANA

The Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD) was established in 1945 and charged with

the responsibility of planning and management of growth and development of cities, towns and

villages in the country.

It therefore seeks to promote sustainable human settlements development based on principles of

efficiency, orderliness, safety and healthy growth of communities.

It is a unique service delivery Department under the Ministry of Environment, Science and

Technology. The TCPD, until the administrative reforms of the 1980s, operated purely as a Civil

Service Department with the Head Office in Accra and branch offices at the Regions and the

Districts.

Prior to 1993, responsibility for planning lay with the Minister responsible for Town and

Country Planning (The Town and Country Planning Act of 1958 (Act 30).

(www.tcpghana.gov.gh, 2014)

The functions of the body now upon many improvements and revisions, comes in three folds,

thus the national level, regional level, and the district levels.

National level

 Researching into spatial planning and urban management issues.

 Formulation of human settlements policy.

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 Formulating and reviewing laws on human settlement development, land use planning and
management matters.
 Setting Spatial Planning Standards.
 Preparation of spatial planning guidelines and development of permitting procedures.
 Provision of technical advisory services on human settlements to Government, the local
government service, public organizations, private sector and the general public.
 Monitoring and Evaluating performance of Regional and District level spatial and land use
planning.
 Management of special projects.
 Public education and awareness on spatial and land use planning issues.
 Human resource planning and capacity building for effective town and country planning.

Regional Level

 Ensuring that the land use plans prepared by the District Physical Planning Departments
reflect the Medium Term Development Plans.
 Ensuring the harmonization of spatial plans of the MMDAs.
 Leading the process of preparing Regional Spatial Development Frameworks.
 Monitoring and ensuring quality control of spatial and land use plans at the District level.
 Overseeing operations of the districts without established physical planning offices or
professional planners.
 Providing technical guidance for both public and private institutions and individuals.

District Level

 Preparation of District Spatial Development Framework Plans, Structure Plans and Local
(layout) Plans to direct and guide the growth and sustainable development of human
settlements.
 Processing of planning schemes and development applications for consideration of the
District Assemblies.
 Monitoring urban development processes and recommending for management by the
District Assemblies.

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  Co-ordination of the diverse physical developments promoted by departments, agencies
of government and private developers.
 Providing technical guidance for both public and private institutions and individuals.

(www.townplanning.gov.gh, 2014)

DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE LANDS COMMISION OF GHANA

The Lands Commission established under article 258 of the Constitution shall act in accordance

with the Constitution and this Act.

2. Functions of the Commission

(I) The Commission shall, in co-ordination with the relevant public agencies and governmental

bodies,

(a) On behalf of the Government, manage public lands and any other lands vested in the

President by the Constitution or by any other enactment or the lands vested in the Commission;

(b) Advise the Government, local authorities and traditional authorities on the policy framework

for the development of particular areas to ensure that the development of individual pieces of

land is coordinated with the relevant development plan for the area concerned;

(c) Formulate and submit to Government recommendations on national policy with respect to

land use and capability;

(d) Advise on, and assist in the execution of, a comprehensive programme for the registration of

title to land throughout the Republic in consultation with the

Title Registration Advisory Board established under section 10 of the Land

Title Registration Act, 1986; 2 and

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(e) Perform any other functions that the Minister may assign to the Commission.

(2) The Minister may, with the approval of the President, give general directions in writing to the

Commission on matters of policy in respect of the management of public lands. (Lands

Commission Act, 1994)

2.0 A MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT WORK IS TO TAKE PLACE AT ACCRA,

OBETSEBI LAMPTEY CIRCLE AND KOJO THOMPSON ROAD. THE PROJECTS

CONSIST OF INTERCHANGES AND INTERSECTION RESPECTIVELY.

DISCUSSION ON

 FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT INTERSECTION DESIGN

Intersection means an area where two highways or more meet or cross each other .These
intersections are very crucial on highways as they control the efficiency , safety and capacity of
the vehicles and others user of the road facility.
Factors include;
i) Human Factors:
The driver: Driver performance on the road and highway is important for the design and its
operation. The success of design depends on how efficiently and safely drivers use the highway.
Driver should be able to interpret the crossing and movements of the other vehicles.
Designer of these intersection points should always keep in mind the limitation of the user and
the intersection design should meet the standards and codes based on which it is designed.
The Bicyclist: Experience, capabilities and skills of the Bicyclist affects the design of
intersection .Design should be helpful for the Bicyclist in understanding the traverse of the
intersection
The Pedestrian: Pedestrian usage of the intersection effect the design .The time in which they
will cross the intersection, their physical ability, age all factors affect the design

ii) Traffic Considerations:

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Factors like size and type of the vehicle affects the road design standards too .The operating
difference of the vehicle should be included in the design.
iii) The Physical Environment:
Special focus should be given at the designing time while considering the physical environment
features like rural, urban and industrial areas.
iv) Other Factors:
At intersection point there are varieties of conflicts on regular basis like truck, pedestrians,
transit, bicycles. These conflicts plays a vital role in preparing the design of the
intersection .Conflicts should be resolved in design for a very small area.
Design should focus on Convenience, Comfort and Ease of the various human factors and
vehicles. Safety and mobility of the vehicles should be kept in mind at planning phase too.

So these are the above mentioned main factors which affect the intersection design; apart from
these factors there are may be a list of other factors too which should be kept in mind in the early
phase of designing of the intersection to make a safe and functional intersection for all users.
(www.qsarticle.com, 2013)

 DESIGN PROVISION FOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM, PEDESTRIANS SAFETY FOR

INTERSECTION

 DRAINAGE DESIGN FOR INTERSECTION

Road surface drainage deals with the drainage of storm water runoff from the road surface and
the surfaces adjacent to the road formation. Several elements can be used to intercept or capture
this runoff and facilitate its safe discharge to an appropriate receiving location. These elements
include:
 Kerb and channel;
 Edge and median drainage;
 Table drains and blocks;
 Diversion drains and blocks;
 Batter drains;

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 Catch drains and banks;
 Drainage pits; and
 Pipe networks. (Department of Transport and Main Roads Road Drainage Manual, 2010)

a) Longitudinal drainage pipe alignments are not permitted to be located under road pavements
and kerbs but shall be located behind back of kerbs.

Road reserve widths are to be widened to accommodate the larger diameter pipes behind back of
kerb and other services within the road reserve.
1. None longitudinally under kerbs.
2. Acute intersection angles between lines at pits are not permitted.
3. Curvilinear pipe alignments are not desirable and are to be used only in exceptional
circumstances.
4. Drainage pits are to be provided at intersection of drainage lines and changes of direction of
drainage line

 PEDESTRIANS SAFETY FOR INTERSECTION

All pedestrian facilities such as footpaths, ramps including Perambulator crossings or kerb
ramps, shared paths, bus stops, bus shelters and other walkways shall be designed to satisfy
safety requirements.
Hazard and directional Tactile Ground Surface Indicators at all pedestrian facilities are to be
designed and installed in accordance with standard specification.

 CRASHES AND EFFECTIVE SAFETY FACTORSE WITHIN INTERCHANGES

AND RAMPS

Interchanges are essential components in freeway operations, because they control freeway
access and handle the movement of traffic between roadways. In many cases, interchanges are
inferior in design quality to the associated freeways and contribute to collisions, in part because

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of the likelihood of increased speed differentials between freeway main lines, ramp junction,
and ramp.
Many highways have controlled access. This means that vehicles can enter or leave the
highway only where there are entrance or exit ramps.

Interchanges have many different possible configurations. The configuration chosen for the
design of any particular interchange;
 must be appropriate for the volume of traffic making specific turning movements at the
interchange,
 The alignments of the roadways being connected, the surrounding terrain, the adjacent
development, and physical constraints such as existing Rivers, roadways, and railroad.

 The minor roadways that are provided within an interchange to allow traffic to move from
one major roadway to another are known as ramps.

Ramps are usually part of grad-separated intersections, where they serve as interconnecting
roadways for traffic streams at different levels.

Ramp metering is designed to achieve one or more of the following none-mutually exclusive
goals:
a) To alleviate or eliminate congestion,
b) To improve freeway flow, traffic safety and air quality by the regulation of input flow of a
freeway,
c) To reduce total travel time and the number of peak-period accidents,
d) To regulate the input demand of the freeway system so that a truly operationally balanced
corridor system is achieved.

 BASIC DESIGN CRITERIA FOR INTERCHANGES SUCH AS

1 DESIGN SPEED
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Desirably, ramp design speeds should approximate the low-volume running speed on the
Interchanging highways.
Values for highway design speeds of at least 50 mph apply to freeway and expressway exits.

2. DESIGN VEHICLES

Road for interchange should be design to have the accurate length and width to suit manner of

vehicle depending on the design specification, taking into consideration, weight and size of

vehicle to commute on interchange.

3. STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE

Stopping sight distance along a ramp should be at least as great as the design stopping sight
distance.

There should be a clear view of the entire exit terminal, including the exit nose and a section of
the ramp pavement beyond the gore.

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Reverence

 tcpghana.gov.gh,( 2014) The Town and Country Planning Department, Available from
http://www.tcpghana.gov.gh/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=69:welcome-to-our-
website&catid=1:latest[Accessed 20/05/15]

 Town planning.gov.gh, (2014) FUNCTIONS, Available from

http://www.townplanning.gov.gh/functions.html[Accessed 20/05/15]

 Lands Commission Act, (1994) Act 483 Lands Commission Act, 1994
Arrangement of Sections Establishment And Functions Of The Commission

 Qsarticle.com(2014)factors affecting intersection design, Available at

http://www.qsarticle.com/factors-affecting-design-of-intersections/[Accessed 21/05/15]

 Department of Transport and Main Roads Road Drainage Manual, (2010) Road Surface
and Subsurface Drainage Design

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