NRA new MD resolves to build standard roads

The newly appointed Sanyang, a chartered engineer with over 35 years of experience in civil engineering, highways, transportation planning, and project management across the UK, Middle East, and Africa, was speaking in an interview during a site visit to the 17km Banni Salikene – Njaba Kunda Loop Road Project in the North Bank Region (NBR) on Thursday 2nd November 2023.

The ongoing project in the North Bank Region is contracted to Bajam Enterprise Limited, a Gambian owned construction company.

The project, when completed would have kerbs at the end, with areas dedicated for the movement of pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised users.

“We need to re-think road building in The Gambia. It should not only be about vehicular movement. Transportation by definition is about the movement of goods and people over space. We are not really moving people. Providing safe places for people to walk will enhance safety and decongest our roads. It also has benefits on climate change as it encourages the use of sustainable modes of transport,” he said.

The well-experienced engineer noted that the 17km Banni Salikene – Njaba Kunda Loop road project has made progress, and the he’s delighted there would be provision for pedestrians and cyclists.

According to Mr Sanyang, it is important for the people in rural areas to have access to day-to-day services, adding that some people in the rural areas walk long distances to go to school, hospitals, and access markets and public services amongst others.

Marie Senghore, managing director of Bajam Enterprise Limited, said they started the project a year ago, adding that it is going quite well.

“We had to break from July to October due to the rain. We cannot do road work during the rainy season, but we continued doing some work up to mid-September such as drainage canals and culverts,” she revealed.

She thanked the NRA for empowering Gambian-owned construction companies, noting that they aim to achieve the target timeline for the completion of the project.

The newly appointed NRA MD also embarked on site visits to the ongoing National Roads Authority (NRA) projects in the Central River Region and Lower River Region respectively.

Sanyang and delegation also visited the OIC 50km road project, the 22km widening of Bertil Harding Highway, the Kerewan-Njawara road project, the Njau-Chamen-Karrol-Wharf Road project, Kabada roads project and Kiang West Road project respectively.