President Kabbah Opens Congo Town Bridge
By Marian Samu

Residents of the Congo Town Community were in a joyous mood as they once again got the opportunity of enjoying vehicular traffic through their community, with the opening of the newly-reconstructed bridge linking their community with the rest of Freetown.

The bridge, which was reconstructed by the Bangladeshi Contingent, Engineers of UNAMSIL, BENENGR-4, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), was opened by the President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, on Tuesday October 19, 2004.

Delivering his address at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Works, Housing and Technical Maintenance, Dr. J.C. Boima, who chaired the occasion, said the bridge since its construction in the colonial days had never undergone any major rehabilitation, and its dilapidation was compounded by war. He expressed appreciation to the Bangladeshi Contingent for their contribution, not only to peace building, but also to the infrastructural development of our country. He said the technical assistance provided by them ensured quick and efficient delivery of services and movement of people.

The BANENGR-4 Contingent Commander, while congratulating all those who contributed to making the work a success, observed that the bridge creates conditions for good communication, and that good communication enhances economic growth. He said the bridge is a sign of peace and symbolizes the long-term friendship between UNAMSIL and the people of Sierra Leone.

The Director-General of SLRA, Mr. Ibrahim Kebbay, extolled the Bangladeshi Engineers-BANENGR -4, for coming to their aid at a critical time when they thought all was lost. He said when pressure mounted from the community and the general public for the reconstruction of the bridge, the SLRA made several approaches to donors for help, but without success. It was the Bangladeshi contingent who came to their rescue when they thought all was lost, the Director-General explained.

Mr. Kebbay commended the BANENGR-4 for their intervention, not only in the reconstruction of the Congo Town Bridge, but other areas of the country where they have collaborated with the SLRA, including the spot improvement of the Mile 91-Robol junction road, the Songo -Moyamba and the Matotoka -Yele roads.

The UNAMSIL Force Commander, Major-General Sajat, in his statement, noted that the life-wire of any country is good road network. Without good roads, he said, a country is weak. He said the bridge will ease traffic congestion to the west adding that it will benefit not only the Congo Town Community but the rest of commuters to and from the central business district of Freetown. He pledged UNAMSIL's continued support to the Sierra Leone Government and to SLRA in particular.

In his address, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah lauded the contribution of the Bangladeshi and other contingents of UNAMSIL to the infrastructural development of the country. While emphasizing the importance of the bridge as it is one of four bridges that link the central part of Freetown to the West end, the President observed that although the bridge had suffered deteriorations over the years due to inadequate maintenance or the increase in the volume of traffic plying over it, it had actually outlived its technical life span as it was constructed during the colonial era.

President Kabbah extended appreciation and gratitude to UNAMSIL and particularly the BANENGR-4 for the wonderful support they gave during the time of dire need. This, he noted, is typical of UNAMSIL as they have always considered positive interventions in various communities as a way of enhancing lasting peace.

President Kabbah also used the opportunity to highlight some of the efforts made by government through SLRA to rehabilitate access-roads within the Freetown municipality. He said the Authority has used the road funds to pave key roads like Ross Road, Fourah Bay Road, State Avenue, Robert Street, John Street, Clarke Street, Main Motor Road - Congo Cross and Hannah Benka Coker Street adding that Circular Road and Dundas Street will be overlaid before the end of the year.

The President also informed his audience that the Authority has prepared a three-year Road Development Programme, starting January 2005 to December 2007, meant to tackle the problem of access to the city. Under the programme, he said, 8.8 km of roads will be rehabilitated in the East end, 6.9 km in the Central zone and 9.2 km in the West end. The total estimated cost for these works is US$ 6.225 million which is distributed as follows: US$ 2.2 million for the East zone, US$ 1.725 million for the Central zone and US$ 2.3 million for the West zone.

He expressed hopes that by the completion of these road rehabilitation works, coupled with the construction of the Hill Side Road and the completion of the Peninsula Road to Lumley Police Station, the Freetown Municipality would have been provided with adequate access to facilitate meaningful socio-economic development. President Kabbah disclosed that part of this work will provide Freetown the opportunity of having its first fly-over-bridge in the Lumley area.

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