The inhabitants of Kiang Kemoto in the Lower River Region, hailed the National Roads Authority (NRA) for the ongoing construction of the 87km Kiang West Road project.
According to the community, they have been suffering for years due to their bad road, which deprived them of access to hospitals, schools, and markets amongst others.
The Kiang West Road project is divided in two phases, with Phase 1 which is 39km started from Kiang Sankandi to Kiang Karantaba, while the Phase 2 which is 48km started from Kiang Kenema to Kiang Kemoto respectively.
The consultant of the project is CityScapes Associates, while the contractor is Gai Construction.
Sulayman Sumareh Janneh, the deputy managing director, NRA stated that the 87km Kiang West Road project is one of their projects that they have been supervising, adding that they are very impressed with the pace and progress of the project so far.
George Jatta, technical director, NRA, stated that the 87km Kiang West Road project is divided in two phases, adding that phase 1, which is 39km started from Kiang Sankandi to Karantaba, while the phase 2, which is 48km (is the road which branch at Karantaba) started from Kiang Kenema to Kemoto.
According to him, 75% of the work has already been completed in phase 1, while phase 2 is above 60%.
“We have already started the surface treatment in phase 1 and it remains 13km, while in phase 2, we have not started any surface treatment yet,” TD Jatta noted.
Kenneth Ken Johnson, resident engineer of the Kiang West Road Project, revealed that they have done more than 75% of the work in Phase 1, while now approaching 60% of the work in Phase 2.
Alagie Dembo Kinteh, a resident of Kiang Kemoto, expressed happiness to the NRA for construction such a road project in Kiang West, noting that Kiang West have been so much suffering when it’s comes to their bad roads
“I want to use the opportunity to thank the NRA and the government of the Gambia. We want to inform the government that the current road of the project is very safe and promising.”
For her part, Fatou Njie, another resident of Kiang Kemotowho went on behalf of the Kemoto women to their delight for having such development on their road.
“This project cannot come at a better time than now. We were really suffering, especially us women due to our bad road. We will normally leave here very early and spend the night at other villages due to lack of a vehicle to transport us from and to our village,” she revealed.
According to her, having this road project up to their river side is a milestone, adding that because all they depend on all their survival in the river.
By Arfang M.S. Camara, Communication Officer, NRA