By Yero S. Bah
The residents of Fajikunda in Serekunda East are elated by the construction of their new concrete slab road which passes through many neighbourhoods right from Churchill’s Town to Abuko.
Even though the road is still under construction, residents have already started benefiting from this strategic concrete stretch as access to transportation has become easier and affordable.
Ms. Isatou Bah, a resident of Fajikunda “South Africa”, said the new concrete slab road is durable and could serve its purpose for years, compared to the previously built tarred road therein.
“Going to Latrikunda is now easier as taxis ply the road frequently. We are really grateful for the highway as it facilitates fast and easy access to the main highway in Latrikunda,” the elated Isatou remarked.
For Lamin Daffeh, it’s a good initiative and they have applauded it. He, however, called on the National Road Authority (NRA) to build ‘sleeping policemen’ or speed bumps on the new road, so as to deter drivers from over speeding; observing that the said road is in the middle of densely populated neighbourhoods.
Daffeh disclosed that some of the elders in the neighbourhood have already written a letter to the National Road Authority (NRA) regarding over speeding by drivers plying the said road, and asking for the country’s roads safety body to construct ‘sleeping policemen’. But, he told this medium that, they are yet to receive a reply from the NRA.
Daffeh continued: “Even though the construction is unfinished, we want these road bumps to avoid potential accidents as it occurred recently in our neighbourhood, where a Nursery school student was hit by a driver.
“Fortunately, that driver was not driving fast, otherwise, it would have been a different story today.”
However, a taxi driver plying the road from Latrikunda to Abuko, who wants to remain anonymous, had contrary version. He argued that drivers plying that road only limit themselves to “speed two or three” because they are conscious of the dangers of driving in such crowded neighborhoods where children can rush to the highway, anytime and anyhow.
“We, as drivers, are very conscious of the dangers of driving along this new road,” the driver claimed.
On the issue of passengers, the anonymous driver said, it is difficult to get passengers, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is hot. “No passengers at this time,” the driver, who didn’t want to be named, lamented in an interview with Mansa Banko Online.
He said they only get passengers during the early morning rush hour traffic and evening time when workers are closing from work, and other commuters going to their various destinations.
The road in question stretches from Churchill’s Town to Abuko Gamtel offices connecting the Brikama-Serekunda busy highway and passing through numerous neighbourhoods such as Tallinding, Ebo Town and Abuko.
It is a vital road that often decongests the main Brikama-Serekunda highway, particularly during morning rush hours and in the evening, when workers from various places are either reporting to work or closing for the day.
The cement concrete road looks stronger compared to a tarred road as it’s purely built of cement concrete. Concrete roads are increasingly gaining momentum in recent years in the country, mainly due to its durability.
It’s been observed that concrete roads do not get damaged by the leaking oils from the vehicles or by the extreme weather conditions like excess rain or extreme heat.
