By Hassan J. Koroma in Bo
The head of the National Authorising Office (NAO), Ambrose James, has said they were satisfied with progress in ongoing construction works involving two major roads in the country.
Mr James was speaking in Pujehun at the end of a two-day inspection tour of the sites of the European Union funded projects in Moyamba and Pujehun.
The projects entail 226 million euro for the Bandajuma – Liberia border road and 40.7 million euro for the Moyamba Junction - Moyamba Town road. In between these two major roads are bridges.
The Moyamba Junction-Moyamba Town road, which is 32.8km long, has two bridges over the Gbangbama River which is 36 meters long and Yambatui River in Moyamba town, 42meters long. The main road itself is being upgraded from class 2 un-asphalted road to class 1 all-weather road. This road links the rest of the country to the mining communities of Rutile, Mokanji and the fishing communities of Gbangbatoike and Shenge. Before the end of July, about 9km out of the 32.8 kilometer of asphalt surfacing had been completed, according to officials.
The Bandajuma-Liberia border road involves three bridges: Sewa bridge, Wanjei bridge and Moa bridge, totaling 470 meters long and costing 18 Million Euros.
A third project involves the construction of double lane-bridges over two major rivers: Rokel in Port Loko (Magbere Bridge, which is 163 meters) and Ribbi in Moyamba (Magbang Bridge, which is 231meters long). The Magbang Bridge links Koya Chiefdom in Port Loko to Ribbi.
“I am satisfied with the roads and bridges constructed so far,” said Mr James at the press conference convened in the CSE Conference Hall in Zimmi Mapele Chiefdom, Pujehun District.
Officials said the press conference was meant to update the various stakeholders in the road sector, including the civil society, and local authorities, on progress on the projects. Held on the theme: ‘Improving road infrastructure as a driving force for economic growth and sustainable development,’ the press conference was attended by officials from the Serra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), consultants and the contractor - CSE.
James noted that the NAO, under the supervision of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, is playing the key role of facilitating the process of development cooperation between the government of Sierra Leone and the European Union so that the two collaborate effectively over the projects’ implementation, as enshrined in the Cotonou Agreement.
The Cotonou Agreement is a framework for EU’s relations with 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the pacific (ACP).
These roads and bridges projects, which commenced in 2014, are scheduled to be completed in 2020.
Director of Maintenance at the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, Alfred J Momodu, who also doubles as the Project Manager for the Bandajuma – Liberia Road and bridges works, said: “Roads are the bedrocks for development of any country’’. He noted that the Bandajuma -Liberia road construction will provide regional connectivity.
The Government of Sierra Leone, Momodou went on, provided the funds for the payment of compensation to land owners, payment of economic trees, and the setting up of quarries, among others, as its counterpart contribution.
General Manager of CSE, Mactar Lo, assured that they
would do all in their best in making sure that they provide the people
of Sierra Leone with good and lasting roads.
CSE is an international construction company headquartered in Senegal.
Mr Lo said they intend to maintain their international standard by presenting a standard work under this project.
The roads are expected to last for at least 20 years, whiles the bridges are to last for 100 years.
© 2019 Politico Online
