By Abubakarr Harding
In order to inspect the ongoing erection of guardrails along selected streets within the Central Business District in Freetown, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) together with the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) visited Sani Abacha Street on Monday, August 29, 2022.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), William Fayia Sellu, led the team of institutional heads including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA), Mohamed Kallon, Director of Operations, Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) Ing Alfred J Momodu and representatives of the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority (SLRSA).
IGP Sellu disclosed that the purpose was to get first hand information on how the project was doing and to assess the security strength.
“We are not an implementing partner, our role is just to provide security to ensure the safety and security of the MDAs and equipments,” he said.
Director of Operations from SLRA, Ing Alfred J Momodu, explained that the project is about demarcating between vehicular and pedestrian traffic by creating a sidewalk.
“With this project, the safety of pedestrians within the Central Business District (CBD) would be better,” said Ing Momodu.
He went on to state that the project is in phases and targeting several streets within the CBD.
The erection of the guardrails is funded by RMFA and it is a project implemented by SLRA aimed to enhance a faster flow of traffic and ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike.
The first phase of the work targets Sani Abacha Street, Wilberforce Street and part of Goderich Street, and the second phase will target Rawdon Street, Garrison Street, ECOWAS Street and ‘Salad Ground’.
So far, all parties were satisfied with the progress of the work. After the completion of the work, the Traffic Division of the SLP will ensure that pedestrians do not walk beyond the guardrails and trading will be limited to shop owners along the road.