Gbarnga, Bong County – East International Limited, the company hired to pave principal streets in Gbarnga, has commenced work, starting with the Gbarnga’s main street.
Acting Bong County Superintendent, Anthony Sheriff, during an unscheduled visit a fortnight ago on the main street of Gbarnga, said he was impressed thus far. “At least I am impressed by the level of work done thus far on the road. I am optimistic that the company will deliver,” Sheriff said.
According to Sheriff, the decision to pave the streets in the city was aimed at improving on the access and inner roads. He said the project would be executed to standard requirement and with covered drains where necessary. Sheriff also expressed optimism that the roads, when completed, would have a lot of social economic benefits on the lives of the residents.
Company moved equipment to Gbarnga
The company moved to the site at the weekend and commenced the de-silting of drainages along major streets in the city to ensure free flow of stagnated water and discharge from domestic use. Though, the commencement of the pavement resulted into hectic traffic on the axis, East International officials have assured of speedy completion with consideration for quality job delivery.
However, the scrapping of failed sections on the road is ongoing in readiness for full pavement. Heavy duty construction equipment has since been mobilized to the site by the corporation. Also, site trucks, milling machines, tractors, and graders have also been moved to site. Residents of the county have commended the caucus and the leadership of the county over ongoing road rehabilitation projects in the city.
A cross section of the residents who spoke with FrontPage Africa Sunday, said the pavement would made the roads more motorable and enhance the aesthetics of the city. One of them, Anus Kroma, observed that the leaders of the county have taken the right step by carrying out the pavement as they have for long borne the brunt of the bad condition of the road in the city.
‘When roads are old, it is good to maintain them by opening up and rebuilding if necessary. The roads on the main street were old and cracked and your car would vibrate when you drive on them but now, the story will soon change,’ he added.
Another resident, Mrs. Alice Garmo, also praised the leadership of the county and the caucus for the pavement exercise, saying the aesthetics of the city will improve and said that driving on the paved roads would be more pleasurable. Some of the residents however bemoaned the traffic gridlock caused by the pavement exercise, saying it was eating deep into man-hours that can be put into other productive ventures.
‘I passed through that road last week and the experience wasn’t good at all. The sun was so hot and I spent nearly fifteen minutes in the traffic through a stretch that shouldn’t take more than five minutes. I was however consoled that the traffic gridlock is only temporary and would ease once the rehabilitation is completed,’ one the residents, Mrs. Paula McGill said.
Boost for lawmakers?
The accessibility of roads has formed an integral part of Bong lawmakers’ infrastructural initiative since the beginning of the 53rd national legislature. Till date, road rehabilitation across the county continues to remain at the core of their hearts, according to them.
The pavement of Gbarnga had been the subject of a lot of distress calls and resolutions adopted by delegates at county development sittings, all bordering on the urgent need for pavement of the city as a result of the almost-impassable state some of the streets in the city.
By default, the leadership of the county and the county legislative caucus have always been inundated and overwhelmed with requests from various pressure groups asking for intervention on the bad state of roads in the city.
Going by consultations with residents of Gbarnga and other community stakeholders, there appears to be a high note of success already expected from 10.6 kilometres road project.
Selma Lomax, [email protected]