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Commuters explain reasons for traffic congestion

Dec 13, 2022, 9:57 AM | Article By: Ismaila Sonko   

The heavy traffic congestion in the greater Banjul area mostly during morning and afternoon rush hour has become a growing nightmare amongst commuters who usually travel long distances daily to reach their various destinations. 

This, coupled with the doubling and sometimes trebling of transport fares through dividing routes by drivers at their discretion has even made the situation worse. 

The Point has examined the situation within the Greater Banjul areas.  

A journey by vehicles that should approximately last 30 minutes now takes over three hours on some roads notably the Serekunda-Brikama Highway and as a result of that, school-going children and office staff are the main victims of the traffic congestion. Many people believe it is high time government and non-government agencies combine efforts to find a permanent solution to what looks like a never-ending problem.

Babacarr Jallow, a taxi driver, who operates within the Kanifing area blamed the welders and carpentry men who normally operate along the highway for contributing to the traffic congestion.  

"Welder men, who usually open a garage, sometimes leave their workshops and come close along the roadside to display their wares. For example, some of the vehicles parked here, have been here for over ten years," he said. 

Fabakary Minteh, also blamed the heavy traffic congestion on the drivers who usually parked their vehicles along the highway. 

However, Mr. Minteh urged the government to set aside special parking spaces for drivers.

"Some of the drivers don’t have a place to park their vehicles.  But I blame them partially, at least when they have a place to park, they will not park their vehicles along the road.  Drivers lack parking spaces that’s why they chose to park on the road," he added. 

Babucarr Ceesay, a resident of London corner, blamed the traffic congestion on the women who normally sell on the streets. Ceesay is of the notion women should stay in the market to sell instead of coming to the roadside. 

"These women used to come to the road and sell their commodities. It is really difficult; how can drivers drive correctly when these women are selling along the road," he quizzed. 

He said the issue is further compounded by the size of the coupled with the large number of cars plying the highway.

He called on the government of The Gambia and National Road Authority (NRA) to improve the state of feeder roads in order to ease the heavy traffic congestion.