The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs has informed
deputies that out of the five regional roads in the EC-funded regional road
project, four have been completed and the remaining road, Basse to Velingara
(Senegal) section is in progress. The work on the said road is expected to be
completed in 2013, he said.
Abdou Kolley was speaking on Friday while dilating on the country’s infrastructure sector as he delivered the 2013 budget before the National Assembly.
On the construction of the Darslami-Marakisa-Dimbaya roads, the Finance minister said a supervision consultant has already been recruited, and the civil works contract was signed in October this year.
“The contractor is currently mobilizing and work is expected to commence by January 2013, and the grants agreement for financing the construction of the Trans-Gambia Bridge and associated facilities including joint border posts was signed between the Government of The Gambia and the African Development Bank (ADB) in June 2012,” Kolley said.
This project, he continued, when completed will unlock many economic opportunities and facilitate the movement of goods and persons within the spirit of regional integration.
He added that an ADB mission visited The Gambia in July 2012 to carry out project launching activities; thus the process of recruiting a consultant for the project has since commenced.
“Mandinaba-Soma road when completed will link Banjul-Basse on the South Bank while Laminkoto-Passamace road in the North Bank is the only section holding up the entire linking of the North Bank stretch,” said Kolley.
He said a feasibility study and detailed design of the road has already been done, and Government is seeking funds from funding agencies for the construction works to commence.
The Finance minister further revealed that detailed terms of reference for feasibility and design studies for a railway system have also been finalized, and the study will commence as soon as funding is secured.
