Updated 28 September 2026 · Travo.ng
Quick answer
The Accra–Tema Motorway is a construction zone. It is being rebuilt as a 10-lane highway between the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and the Tema Roundabout, with completion targeted for 2 August 2027. Expect lane changes, diversions and peak-hour delays, especially at Tetteh Quarshie, where bridge-widening work from March 2026 cut lanes on the Accra–Madina (N4) side. For conditions right now, check a live map app and the Ghana Highway Authority’s channels before you set off.
How to get live traffic news for the Accra–Tema Motorway
No article can replace a live feed. For real-time conditions:
- Live map apps: check a navigation app with live traffic just before you leave, and again at Tetteh Quarshie, the Motorway Roundabout and the Tema end.
- Ghana Highway Authority (GHA): GHA announces lane closures and diversions on its official social media. For the Tetteh Quarshie works, its Public Affairs Division gave a WhatsApp line: 0551622244.
- News outlets: Citi Newsroom, Graphic Online, the Ghanaian Times and The Chronicle all reported the 2026 diversions as they happened.
- Police: follow the Ghana Police Service’s official social channels for accident and road alerts, and obey MTTD officers at the scene.
What follows is the background you need to make sense of those alerts.
The motorway reconstruction: key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current section | 19.5 km, Tetteh Quarshie Interchange to Tema Roundabout |
| Design | 10-lane divided highway: access-controlled express lanes plus urban highways on each side |
| Other works | Reconstruction of five interchanges, eight toll plazas, 10 footbridges, drainage and street lighting; new interchanges at Teshie Link, Community 18 and Lashibi |
| Cost | About US$350 million |
| Contractor and model | Maripoma (Ghanaian-owned) builds; a 30-year PPP between GHA and AT Express Limited |
| Start and target end | Started 2 January 2024; target completion 2 August 2027 |
| Background | Motorway commissioned in 1965; carries about 45,000 vehicles a day |
Sources: Citi Newsroom, 31 March 2026; Ghanaian Times reports on the sod-cutting and on 35% progress.
On 31 March 2026, Citi Newsroom reported that work had stalled while contractors waited for payment of outstanding debts. The project manager said the team was still aiming for the August 2027 date, and contractors named utility relocation as a risk to the schedule. The Ghanaian Times has also reported the project at 35% complete. We could not confirm the date of that report, so treat it as indicative.
Tetteh Quarshie Interchange: what changed in 2026
Tetteh Quarshie is where the motorway meets the N1 and the N4 towards Madina, and it is the main pinch point. In March 2026, GHA announced traffic changes to allow T-beam launching for the interchange bridge expansion:
- From Monday 9 March 2026, for about four months: the N4 northbound carriageway (Accra to Madina) had temporary lane closures, and the southbound carriageway (Madina to Accra) was reduced from four lanes to two in each direction.
- The first closure caused hours of gridlock, and a closed lane on the Accra–Madina stretch was reopened on 10 March. The project’s chief resident engineer said three lanes were being added at Tetteh Quarshie.
- A later GHA notice, reported on 13 March, said the adjustments would run from 14 March on weekends and public holidays for about four months.
Sources: Ghanaian Times (5 Mar 2026); Graphic Online (9 Mar 2026); Citi Newsroom (9 and 10 Mar 2026); The Ghanaian Chronicle (13 Mar 2026).
Those four-month windows would have ended around mid-2026. We have not seen a confirmed end-date announcement, so check GHA before assuming all lanes are open again.
Alternative routes around Tetteh Quarshie
During the March works, the project’s chief resident engineer described two workarounds (Citi Newsroom, 9 March 2026):
- Heading north towards Madina: stay on the motorway, make the U-turn, then turn right at Tetteh Quarshie onto the N4, instead of queuing at the roundabout.
- Coming from Dzorwulu: turn right near Fiesta Royale and use the neighbouring residential roads to bypass the interchange.
Diversions change as work moves on, so follow the signs and officials on the day.
Accident reports and alert zones
Construction zones bring narrow lanes, sudden merges, loose gravel, dust and pedestrians crossing near unfinished footbridges. The contractor has said it waters dusty sections, asphalts critical areas and blocks unauthorised access to unfinished lanes. Take extra care at:
- Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, especially in the morning and evening peaks
- Merge points where traffic switches between the old carriageway and the new urban lanes
- The new interchange sites at Teshie Link, Community 18 and Lashibi
- The Tema Roundabout end
Tips for using the Accra–Tema Motorway during construction
- Leave before the peak, or after it, if you can. Graphic Online reported that the morning and evening peaks were expected to see the worst delays.
- Check a live map app before you set off and again just before Tetteh Quarshie.
- Keep your speed down in works zones, and do not use the unfinished lanes.
- If you are heading to Kotoka airport or the port, add a buffer to your journey time.
- If you are driving to Tema, the Accra–Tema distance is about 28 km (17.5 miles), roughly 25 minutes in free-flowing traffic. Rome2Rio also lists a train and a bus as alternatives.
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Travelling between Lagos and Accra?
Book your trip or arrange a shipment on Travo, and see the price before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Is there traffic on the Accra–Tema Motorway today?
Check a live map app and GHA’s official channels. Because of the ongoing reconstruction, delays are likely at peak times, especially around Tetteh Quarshie.
When will the Accra–Tema Motorway expansion be finished?
The target completion date is 2 August 2027, according to the project manager (Citi Newsroom, 31 March 2026). Payment delays and utility relocation were named as risks.
Why is Tetteh Quarshie so congested?
Bridge-widening at the interchange needed lane closures on the N4 from March 2026, and the motorway, N1 and N4 all meet there.
How do I contact GHA about the motorway works?
For the Tetteh Quarshie works, GHA’s Public Affairs Division gave the WhatsApp number 0551622244. GHA also posts updates on its official social media.
Will the new motorway have tolls?
The project includes eight toll plazas under a 30-year PPP, according to the Ghanaian Times. Toll rates had not been confirmed in the sources we checked.
What should I do if I see an accident?
Stop only where it is safe, call the emergency services, follow police and MTTD directions, and keep clear of the works zone.
Related guides
- Kasoa–Mallam road traffic news
- Lagos to Ghana by road
- Shipping from Nigeria to Ghana
- Berger Junction traffic news (Lagos)
Sources: Citi Newsroom (9, 10 and 31 Mar 2026); Ghanaian Times (5 Mar 2026 and undated project reports); Graphic Online (9 Mar 2026); The Ghanaian Chronicle (13 Mar 2026); Rome2Rio Accra–Tema. Fares and prices change often — confirm before you travel or pay.
