The Managing Director of the National Roads Authority (NRA), Mr. Ousman Sanyang stated that his Authority (NRA) wants to do as much as they can to complete a few of the roads under the ongoing construction of the OIC 50km Urban Roads project.
The NRA boss was speaking in an interview during their site visits on the ongoing construction of the OIC 50km Urban Roads project Lot 1, held on Thursday 28th March 2024.
Mr. Sanyang and his NRA delegation together with the consultant (PACE/GAMECS JV) and the Contractor (SSTP, CSE and AL-FAD JV) visited eight of the roads being constructed under this Lot.
The team started the tour at P16 – which connects Kanifing Hospital to GTMI road (0.75km); P2 – which links the Kanifing Hospital to Bertil Harding (Methodist) and Estate Road (2.80km); P19 – which starts from Kairaba Avenue (former IEC) to Banjul/Serrekunda Highway (GTTI) (1.96km); P1 – which connects from GPPC to New Jeshwang (GACEM Junction) and Jokor Junction (2.56km).
The delegation then proceeded to P3- 2.80km road project which starts from GPPC road to Westfield (Jokor) to Abuko and the Abuko Concrete Road; P15 – 2.68km Bundung Highway Road project; P12 – 2.31km Rev. J.C Faye (Saffiedine) Road; and P10 – 1.26km road project which starts from Sukuta Junction Ba to Bakoteh Hermann Gmeiner Road (Amsterdam) respectively.
“Overall, I am pleased with the level of progress on the ongoing construction works. But I think we can do a bit more by pushing the contractor to progress as much as we can to complete some roads completely before the rainy season,” said the NRA Managing Director during an interview.
“The rate of progress of works is better when compared to my last visit. Construction projects in an urban built-up environment where we are mostly retrofitting, have quite a lot of challenges, especially regarding encroachments onto the highway which needs to be demolished, as well as utility services to be relocated,” he further said.
According to him, there are other key challenges such as clearing the right of way for the contractor in some areas. Also, the contractor is starting works in several areas at the same time, which he noted is not the most efficient way to work.
“We want to now concentrate on one area at a time and try to complete those roads one at a time to minimise disruption to residents,” he said, adding that care and caution needs to be exercised to minimise the impact of the works on residents.
He urged the site staff and NRA project implementation team to intensify engagement with residents to keep them informed of the progress and impact of the works.
The NRA boss explained that although the disruption is a temporary condition, it is important to minimise the stress on residents as much as possible.
Mr Sanyang, an experienced Chartered Civil, Highways and Transportation Engineer said it is very good to see the contractors are making progress to provide access to properties as well as constructing the footways, saying that these are important considerations for such urban road projects.