Maintenance of our roads
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Thursday, November 03, 2011

Editorial

We wish to commend the government of Taiwan for their handsome donation
towards the enhancement of the country’s road network. The gesture combined
with other donors like the EDF would enable the country to be able to
implement its transport plan.

It would help the country to have a good road network that would not only
ease the movement of people, but also enhance the economy, as there would
be smooth flow of goods and services, while production centers would be
linked to markets
We also deem it imperative to applaud the National Roads Authority and its
line Ministry for a job well done.

 Already, we have seen a proliferation of road construction in the country;
most of them either complete or near completion. This is an indication that
the institution is efficiently maintaining and implementing donor funds.

As donors are showing commitment to developing our road network, and the
implementing agencies are executing the task, we wish to reiterate that the
culture of maintenance also be given due consideration.

Looking at the nature of the construction of the roads, which are raised
above surface, making them to register potholes, while the edges of some of
the roads are also getting eroded gradually, due to weather conditions and
the persistent usage.

The National Roads Authority and all other stakeholders must know that
there is the need to carry out major maintenance work on the roads to
prevent them from further depreciation.

The more this is delayed, the more the roads degenerate and it is obvious
that under extreme dilapidated conditions, the only option will be to
reconstruct them, which will weigh heavily on the government.

It is certain that every stakeholder in development understands that one
sustainable feature of any infrastructural development is maintenance.
Without the culture of maintenance, development projects depreciate in time
and would eventually become useless.

Even human beings need maintenance to keep the body in good shape and form.
The culture of maintenance should therefore be embedded in the national
development paradigm so that our collective achievements become sustainable.

It is also important that good engineering work is carried on the roads
from start of construction to finish. This is significant because some of
the roads so far constructed are the least satisfactory.

We have also seen the head of state personally voicing out his
dissatisfaction at the state of such roads. For example, looking at the
Churchills Town, Tabokoto junctions, and from the airport junction to
Farato, one can easily detect faults in the construction of the road as
waterways are blocked, the drainage canals get filled to the brim, while
running water cover the road, thus obstructing traffic and other economic
functions.


All these should be remedied to avoid future dissatisfaction with our
roads. We also wish to recommend that Gamtel and Nawec be allowed to lay
their pipes and wires that cut across the road before surface dressing is
done.

It is absolutely disheartening to see staff of these institutions dig
across a road to fix their pipes and wires when the road has been
completed. Such a situation would no way help the sustainability and
durability of our roads.

As we galvanise efforts to ensure the development of the country, we should
at equal degree make sustainability our trademark.
Author: *Daily Observer*

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GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA.
LET US JOIN HANDS AND SUPPORT SHEIKH PROFESSOR DR. ALH YAHYA JAMMEH (NASIRU
DEEN) TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY. *


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