The Sierra Leone Road Authority, (SLRA) on Friday 3rd September, 2021 briefed the media on major road projects that are ongoing.
Chairing the occasion at the Authority’s compound at Ferry Junction in Freetown, the SLRA Board Chairman, Joseph S. Keifala described the media engagement as an opportunity for citizens to know their operations and evaluate them.
“We can only show accountability and transparency through this way. Our operations cannot be successful without tax payers knowing what we do,” he said.
The Acting Director General, Abdulai Ansumana underscored the mandate of the Authority which includes, ensuring that roads are constructed in a durable and safe way and to also see the empowerment of local contractors.
Giving an update on major road projects, Alfred J. Momoh, Director of Operations said that after the civil war, there was a need to construct provincial roads and townships, and the last ten years has seen many roads been constructed.
He said that in 2018, SLRA started restructuring their operations which created new departments to help categorize their operations.
He said that some of the major road projects are being funded by donor partners, while some trunk roads are undertaken by the Government of Sierra Leone.
He said that projects like the Bandajuma Roads, Wanje, Sewa Moa, Limkokwing Hill Cut Roads, Moyamba, Lumley Tokeh, Hillside Bypass, Bo and Kenema are either completed or on the verge of completion. In total, he said that 1670 kilometers of roads have been constructed nationwide.
Most of their projects are based on the availability of funding which will lead to further roads construction.
Commenting on the ongoing maintenance and drainage clearing works, Paul Demby said that the authority do routine, periodic and emergency maintenance, adding that they have brushed over 800 kilometers of road sides across the country through the Road Maintenance Fund Administration. He said their responsibility is to ensure that roads constructed are in good shape.
He also said that four of the thirteen ferry crossing points in the country, will be transformed to bridges.
On the encroachment on the right of way, Peter Komeh, Director Assets Management said that it has been costing government billions of Leones to compensate people on the right of way and to avoid that, they have embarked on a proactive steps to prevent people from building on the right of ways. He called on the fourth estate to be supportive in their operations by creating awareness in communities.
