The National Authorizing Office, under the supervision of the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning, has secured a grant of €40 million Euro from the European Development Fund (11TH EDF), for the construction of a road and bridges in Moyamba District. The project was designed for a period of two years, and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Head of maintenance, Sierra Leone Roads Authority, Alfred Mamoud, said the road will last for at least 20 years, while the bridges will last for at least a 100 years. After the feasibility and detail design phase between 2012 and 2013, the work was divided into two lots (lot 1 and 2). The project was then awarded to MSF Engenharia SA from Lisbon, Portugal, with November 15 as contractual commencement date. Because of non-performance by MSF, their contract was terminated by notification on 21st July 2017, and contract for lot 1 and 2 were concluded with successful tender to CSE from Dakar, Senegal on 18 January 2018. The first lot was for the construction of the Moyamba Junction Road and the construction of the Gbangbama and Moyamba Bridges.
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The project was subsequently divided into two lots. Lot 1 will see the construction of two bridges over Gbangbama River (36m long), Yambatui River in Moyamba Town (42m long) and the rehabilitation of Moyamba Junction Road, upgraded from 2 un-asphalted road to class 1 all-weather road. The Moyamba Junction road works is 32.8 km in length. Lot 2 will see the construction of double-lane bridges over Rokel River in Port Loko District (163m long Magbele Bridge) and over Ribbi River (231m long, Magan Bridge), which shares boundary between Koya and Ribbi Chiefdom respectively. The contract value for lot 1 is €17,450,093.84 and the contract value for lot two amounts to €15,629,959.91. At the end of July 2019, about 9 km out of 32.8 km some 9 km of asphalt surfacing have been completed. Tamba Abu, a resident of the District, said his house was knocked down by CSE contracting company, and awaits compensation. Director of National Authorizing Authority, Ambrose James, said government is committed to ensuring the completion of the project, and will compensate all those who are affected by the road construction, adding that during the first phase of the project, a good number of people have been compensated. James said, €376 million Euros was provided by the European Development Fund under the 11th EDF. James said that the said amount was meant for governance, education, agriculture, and infrastructure. “As part of our mandate, we at the National Authorizing Authority (NAO) will ensure that all the contractual agreements are met,” James went on. Some residents in the District also complained about environment issues. They said there are pitfalls all over the place and the drainage system is very poor, and this has the tendency for flooding. Consulting contractor, Inros Lackner, said, they will fix all the drainages and pitfalls as soon as possible and hopefully meet the target completion in March 2020. Lackner called on the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) to make the environment accessible for them so that they can complete work next year. “The scope of the work is very wide, therefore, everybody must come onboard to see its completion,” Lackner said. Kini Kai, Chiefdom Councilor, Tikonko Chiefdom, Moyamba District, said, the contracting company, CSE, promised to build two markets and one borehole for them as part of their corporate social responsibility, but they are yet to see that. “Before now, there was a huge percentage of motor accidents because of the old bridge. I am now hopeful that the new bridge will drastically reduce the spate of motor accidents,” Kai said. Alfred Brima Banya, Deputy Chair, Moyamba District Council, said the development is a needed facility for the people of the District, especially for those who are coming from the Ribbi Chiefdom. He said, “It will improve and enhance other commercial activities and the socio-economic development of the District.
SKS/10/8/19
By Sulaiman Karim Sesay
Tuesday August 13, 2019.
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