‘COASTAL ROAD’ DRIVERS, PASSENGERS HARP ON POOR ROAD CONDITIONS

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By Mustapha Jallow Residents and drivers plying the Tabokoto-Coastal road highway haveIntersection along the Coastal Road expressed grave concern over the poor condition of the Wellingara-SinchuAlagi highway often called the ‘Coastal Road’. This reporter, who was out and about, met scores of passengers and drivers, who harped on the poor road conditions, lamenting theterrible and worsening state of the road especially during the rainy season. BaboucarMbaye, a commercial van driver, who plies the road, said he has so far spent a lot of money on repairs of his vehicle which often has a breakdown due to the bad road. “I always encounter breakdowns with this part or that part getting damaged by the craters or potholes along the road,” he lamented. For AbdoulieJobe, who was found stranded in a pool of stagnant water in the middle of the road, expressed his frustration over driving on such roads. He said he has breakdown that requires a lot of money to fix before the vehicle is roadworthy again. “How can you work and make money in this type of situation?” he asked. Julaba Barry, an expecting mother, who joined a passenger vehicle with two of her children, also lamented the condition of the road, adding that women in her situation should not even be travelling on such roads. “But what can we do since we cannot stay at home all throughout. I have to go to the Banjul hospital regularly to check my condition and to the market for the family to eat,” she explained. Talking to MrBabou Marr, one of the head of a car park or ‘chef de garage’, as they are often called, he acknowledged the poor state of the roads and the need to have good roads to facilitate easy movement of vehicles. He appealed to government to construct more roads and to regularly maintenance the existing ones. When this reporter visited the National Roads Authority (NRA) on MDI road in Kanifing North for them to shed light on the issue, the Managing Director, Modou Senghore, was said to be indisposed. However, one of the technical staff acknowledged that they are aware of the deplorable condition of the road, adding that they are working on plans to construct the stretch.]]>