The National Roads Authority (NRA), accompanying the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure (MOTWI), also on Monday visited both the Kerewan-Njawara road project and the Banni Salikene-Njaba Kunda Loop Road project in the North Bank Region (NBR).
The Kerewan-Njawara Road Project, which is a 10km double surface dressing, is contracted to Gai Construction Company, a Gambian-owned company, and NRA is the consultant for the project.
The project, which started in May 2021, is 99% completed after some significant delays.
Meanwhile, the Minister and his delegation concluded the Monday inspection tour at the Banni Salikene-Njaba Kunda Loop Road Project.
The 17km double surface dressing road project, which started from Banni Salikene to Njaba Kunda, is contracted to Bajam Enterprise Limited, another Gambian-owned construction company, and NRA as the consultant on the project.
The project currently achieved 70% progress. 16km of materials have been placed, and 1km of subbase is remaining.
Speaking after the site visits, the Honourable Minister of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure, Mr Ebrima Sillah expressed content with the level of progress registered on both ongoing construction and partially completed projects, noting that both road projects (Kerewan-Njawara & Banni Salikene-Njaba Kunda) were executed by Gambian-owned companies.
He added that these are important roads for the government and the people of the North Bank Region, adding that the Kerewan-Njawara road project is 99% completed, while the Banni Salikene-Njaba Kunda Road project has achieved 70% progress.
“What is left now for the Kerewan-Njawara project are safety precautions such as road markings and speed bombs amongst others. We hope that by the end of July, the Banni Salikene-Njaba Kunda Road project will be completed with specific quality.”
For NRA’s part, the deputy managing director, Mr Sulayman Sumareh Janneh, said they are very impressed with the level of work progress registered thus far compared to their previous visit a few months ago
“Although we were dissatisfied with the level of progress during our previous visit. Quality was never the issue for the Banni Salikene-Njaba Kunda Road project. We had a series of discussions with the contractor, and we were able to help her accomplish tasks that led to them registering 70% progress.”
Marie Senghore, Managing Director of Bajam Enterprise Limited, expressed delight with the Gambia government for awarding her the contract.
She also expressed hope to complete the project by the end of July 2024.
Madam Senghore went on to thank the NRA for being so helpful in reaching this far in the project.
Asked about how she feels working in a male-dominated field as a contractor, she replied: “The issue is not about gender, rather the priority and intentions I have, are to contribute towards national development, using my professional skills.”
Madam Senghore is a CCharteredEngineer, trained by the Gambia government, and worked for the former PWD.
However, beneficiaries of both projects also expressed their happiness for the latest development while thanking the Barrow government for the great milestone.
The tour continues today, on Tuesday, to the Basse Demba Kunda-Gambisara road project in the Upper River Region (URR) before proceeding to Lot 2 in the Central River Region (CRR).