This landmark road, which connects over 20 communities in Kiang, is being highly anticipated by these communities because people in the area have longed been isolated from such development initiatives since independence.
Measuring about 102 KM, this road is said to be the longest road project government is currently implementing, being contracted to Long Jin Construction, a Chinese company, while Gamecs serves as consultant.
Besides, this vital interlink stretching deep inside Kabada will upon completion, serve as a vital route in promoting businesses and services especially for local ‘lumo’ traders’ that traverse between Casamance and The Gambia, using Kabada as a corridor.
On Monday, the minister for Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah and delegation inspected ongoing road works as part of day-three of his nationwide visit to projects sites across the country.
Speaking to journalists shortly after touring various sites, Minister Sillah maintained that the construction of this landmark road is an indication that development has finally started coming to Kabada. He added that it is the first time in the history of this country that the government has invested resources, energy and time in the welfare of the people of this part of the country that has been neglected since independence.
"Today, we can say with certainty that we are on course to deliver the election promises to the people of Kabada with not only roads, but electricity will be made available to the people of this part of the country. And as you all could see, poles have been erected all over in the Kabadas. The road construction work is progressing steadily and happily, for that matter, and that the Ministry of Agriculture also has a lot of projects, especially water drinking points for animals, and also animal fodder for the livestock owners.”
In this vein, Minister Sillah described the project as phenomenal in terms of the quantum of development that is taking place in the area, further expressing optimism that the contractor will deliver well ahead of time.
He assured the contractor of government’s continuous resolve to provide the necessary support to ensure that what they set for themselves as target of two years, instead of four years, as stated in the project is achieved.
"We support that because we also want to quickly move out of this place and then go to other areas to provide similar infrastructure. What we have seen here is highly commendable."
For his part, Matarr Ceesay, permanent secretary at the Ministry, equally underscored the importance of the road, expressing delight with the way the contractor was able to mobilise his team.
He disclosed that the contractor and his team work both day and night to make sure they deliver ahead of schedule.
He revealed that these roads connect communities of the south of South Bank Road in Kiang, observing that these are communities that have been isolated for development.
PS Ceesay made reference to the fact that there is no major road in the area that connects them to developments.
"So, this south of South Bank bypass would now help to connect these communities to development, while also promoting vital economic and social community activities."
He made reference that the road would help open up Gambia, giving the fact that there is increase in urbanisation in the country, where a lot of people are moving to Greater Banjul Area.
"So building roads and promoting economic activities would help the youth access economy from where they come without having the need to leave and come to Banjul."
Ousman Sanyang, managing director of the National Roads Authority (NRA), described the road project as the longest roads under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) fully funded by government of The Gambia.
"It is the longest road among all of them. There are about 365 kilometers of road up of which this is 102 KM."
The road project, he said, cost over D2 billion dalasis and it is a strategic road situated in Kiang Kabada on the south of the South Bank Road.
"But if you want to look at it, if you want to think about it, it’s like a South Bank bypass within Kiang connecting up to Japineh."
MD Sanyang noted that the road stretches from Kolior and Kiaf end in Kiang connecting communities to Japineh on the South Bank Road.
The road also referred to as the ‘Kiang bypass’ connects over 20 communities and that the number of people connecting to this road is large.
"You could imagine this is opening whole new areas south of the South Bank in Kiang. And you can see the progress made."
Mass Faye, supervising consultant from Gamecs, revealed that at the moment, the earth work is above 80% and that the total project is a 102- kilometre distributed among twelve roads.
The project, he said, was initially planned for four years, but they intend to complete ahead of the scheduled date.
Hong Feng Niu, Chinese contractor, while thanking the government for entrusting them with this important project, promised to deliver good roads and on time.
