Abstract

Urban road expansion projects are a necessary part of transportation infrastructure development but always carry unforeseen socio-economic effects, particularly on street hawkers. In this study, the socio-economic eviction of the Adenta-Oyibi freeway expansion project on street hawkers who earn their livelihood through roadside trading was investigated. Under a qualitative study design, information was collected through in-depth interviews and questionnaires from evicted vendors. The findings revealed that the majority of the traders had displacement, loss of earnings, and other economic issues as a result of inadequate customer flow. The majority of the traders, being women, were disproportionately affected with increased vulnerability to harassment and abuse. Relocation also resulted in increased business costs, psychological distress, and coping strategies in the form of bribery and street vending. The environmental impacts were also observed, with areas of illegal vending being littered due to the absence of proper sanitation facilities. It was such research that promoted in-depth urban planning with emphasis on sustenance among informal traders. The policymakers should also incorporate resettlement strategies and stakeholders' participation in evading adverse impacts of road upgrading on vulnerable groups.