Paynesville, Monrovia – Relief is in the air in the commercial district of RedLight as the road construction which halted normal business seems to be over as there are no signs of ongoing work taking place. But FrontPageAfrica during a visit at the market Wednesday observed cracks in the edge on both sides of the road.
Traders are seen on the sides of the road while vehicles have already begun plying the newly constructed road. Stores, however, still remain closed.
A FrontPageAfrica visit in the mix of traders saw people, believed to be residents and marketers of the commercial district, hauling away crushed rocks meant for work in pickups and wheelbarrows.
Eric Kermue, a taxi driver, said construction of road in red-light has lessened the traffic but added that the edge of the road is not properly done.
“My only fear is that the shoulder of the road is not looking good. The way cars can turn around, this road will start to spoil and it will not last long,” Kermue added.
Kermue continued: “This road is very good for us. The way we used to go to the garage fast, fast, we will not go there. This road was very bad.”
Kermue recounted that on the first day when the construction started getting passengers was difficult, adding that things are gradually getting to normality. “At least we are able to get our report money.”
Worry over early usage
Michael Cooper, a money changer, says that he feels frustrated about the early usage of the road by vehicles when construction is still ongoing.
“How will the road last? People have already begun using the road, vehicles are cracking the road on the side,” Cooper said.
Cooper said the Police should be protecting government properties. “The Police are looking at vehicles using the road and they are not doing anything about it.”
Cooper, who changes money along the road in the mud, is appealing to the Ministry of Public Works to construct a side walk.
“I’m appealing to the government for them to build a side walk, this will reduce the mud in Red-light,” he said.
Getting the Ministry of Public Works to speak on the road construction was not possible.
In an April 21 interview with FPA, PCC Head of Communications Jani Jallah said, the five-day notice given to marketers to pave way for the construction of the road will not extended if there is no rainfall. “We told them five days without rain; we pray that it doesn’t rain.”
With this promise stores owners are hopeful of resuming their business by tomorrow, April 28.
It can be recalled that at midnight on April 20, 2016, the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) closed the road to give way for the Ministry of Public Works to begin the reconstruction of 500 meters of road commencing from the container site to Ma Kebbeh Gas station. The corridor was shut down and made inaccessible to the general public.