Ebrima Sillah was speaking on Tuesday during a visit to the EPC Lot 4 as part of his ongoing tour of road infrastructure projects across the country.
However, this strategic 22.53km road project, which is divided into four sections, constitutes the Kalagi-Kamangka-Bondali road (10.2km); Jorem Nema Kunda-Jorem Bunda Kunda (1.45km), Sangajorr-Dasilami (5.78km), and Kamfenda-Tintinbaa (5.1km).
Minister Sillah expressed satisfaction with the ongoing progress made on the site.
He stated: “Today is day five of our tour of the projects across the country. We've been in the rural areas in the last five days. We are in Foni now, which is Lot four of the EPC projects. And here is about 24 kilometers of roads across the different parts of the Fonis. We are here on the Darsalami-Sangajor Road, which actually joins the Darsalami village from the Sangajor highway all the way to the riverside here.”
At the Sangajor river side, one could easily see Keneba in the Kiangs at a distance and according to the Minister there is already a study done about the possibility of constructing a bridge between Darsilameh in Fonis and Keneba in the Kiangs.
“Actually, where we are standing, we are just some few kilometers away from Kiang. You can see the antennas, you know, and that antenna is actually in Keneba. So, we are very hopeful that this road will be completed by the end of the year, and it will be handed over to the government.”
He added: “We are extremely, very happy with the progress of the road and also the quality of the works that have been actually done here. We want to thank the contractor and consultants that are here. They are also the ones responsible for the Kabada loop, they are doing a phenomenal job.”
He commended the staff of NRA and his Ministry for their hard work, expressing delight with the progress of the roads.
“This particular road is extremely very important to this part of Fonis,” he said, adding that the locals have been appealing for those roads especially the Sheriff Community in The Gambia since the days of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the PPP Leader, and then former President Jammeh and now to President Adama Barrow. Thankfully, it is during the time of His Excellency, President Barrow, that these roads have been done. And in addition to the road, we also have the electricity coming. So, the villagers are extremely happy.”
Momodou Dumbuya, the contractor for the project, gave a rundown of the current progress made, saying the road has three major culverts and also comprised seven Irish culverts.
“Looking at the 20.7 kilometers, Kalagi, Bondali is already completed and we have already seen that structural works have been done. So, as we wait for the sealing and the Sangajor-Darsalam roads, you can see almost around 60% of the culvert works underway. Hopefully, within the next two weeks, we will complete all the culverts. The road is also already at base course, and Kafenda Tintinba is already completed.”
On the overall progress made, the contractor stated that the project progress stood at 70%.
Happily, the locals in this part of Fonis have welcomed the road infrastructure project, as it will boost not only access but also movement of people in view of the fact that most of these communities on the riverside are hugely into fishing. So, sometime accessing main markets becomes a challenge. Now with good roads connectivity, they remain optimistic that it will greatly enhance economic activities in the area and beyond.
The minister and delegation later drove to the coastal towns of Gunjur and Sanyang, where the road infrastructure work is also completed. The road linking Gunjur village and the riverside, which is all concrete, is completed like in Sanyang, he said.
Minister Sillah and tour party also inspected the 18-km Jambanjelly-Njofelleh and Gunjur road network and wrapped up the day’s tour with a visit to Baniaka-Kunkujang Mariama and Tujereng sites, which is also in progress.
