The Wellington-Masiaka Highway which was constructed by China Railway Seventh Group (SL) Co., Ltd. (CRSG) since 2016 has been carefully managed by the company in order to ensure smooth and safe route to all road users. Despite of its efforts, there have been unforeseen circumstances that have greatly contributed to causing short lifespan to the road.
Generally, the issue of damage to the road infrastructure is not new in this country and other places in the world. In Sierra Leone, damage to our roads often occur in the rainy season. Citizens are very quick in placing blame on poor road construction as the major factor.
The claim by some citizens is far from the truth. The road organization has carried the blame for the whole of time.
The realities in this country are as follows:
- Heavy rainfall in the rainy season. In Freetown as in other parts of the country the rainfall is one of the highest in west Africa. The rainfall is so heavy in the month of July and August that the drains are over flooded and rain water finds its way on the road carriageway. According to statistics, the rainfall along the Wellington-Masiaka Highway reached a shocking 983 mm in July 2024, which is far more than the 627 mm recorded in July 2023. The effect of flooding is one of the main causes of road damage. Flooding could be seen in nearly all parts of Freetown.
- Freetown and its environs have a very peculiar terrain. It has a mountain range on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The mountains of Freetown have witness deforestation as a result of building construction etc. and thus disturbing the soil.
In the event of heavy rains the disturbed soil is eroded and move downwards to the city. The silt (mud) fills the drains and thus increase flooding and subsequent damage not only to roads but also to buildings, etc.
- The human effect is very crucial. Some of the citizens are using the road drainage system as a dust bin thus blocking the drains. This effect enhances more flooding. Citizens are not obeying the government regulations is another major factor. The excavation of embankment and cuttings for the construction of buildings within the right-of-way is very evident along the Wellington-Masiaka Highway. They sometimes undermine the road carriageway and slopes. The violation of the right-of-way not only destroys the road itself, but also poses a great threat to the road traffic safety.
- Overloaded heavy vehicles and increased in the volume of heavy vehicles on our roads have done severe damage to the road infrastructure. Road destruction is related to the volume of heavy traffic including the overloaded ones. The effect of the road damage shows itself in the form of potholes and failure at major intersection.
- In some countries in the world including African countries there are overload charges levied on trucks that exceed the stipulated government (design) load.
Sierra Leone has not levied in overload charges as a way of reducing the financial burden on its citizens. The above discussion will be properly understood if we take an example – the Wellington-Masiaka Highway.
This highway is the major road connecting the city of Freetown to the interior of the country. A visual inspection of this road depicts the following:
a) Very heavy and overloaded trucks and trailers plying the road thus causing severe damage to the carriageway potholes and deformation.
b) From Wellington to Masiaka citizens are busy excavating into cuttings and embankments and sometimes extending it to the road drainage and carriageway. This has encouraged mudslide and heavy washing of mud on the road carriageway.
c) One could also see household garbages on the side of this road. It does not only give an unsightly effect but affects the drainage system on the road.
d) One could clearly see the excessive turning, breaking, abrupt stopping and parking of vehicles for commercial purpose including heavy overloaded vehicles at major junctions. All vehicles that concentrated in one lane abandoned the original two-way traffic of four lanes road at the junctions and squeezed into two lanes which resulting traffic congestion. The frequent braking and starting of vehicles cause the remaining lanes to suffer enormous pressure several times higher than normal traffic. These high conflict locations exhibit potholes and deformation of pavement.
The honest analysis of these problems requires twenty-four hours care of the road. This is being religiously done by the contractor CRSG. After every heavy rain, the maintenance team of the company will check the road conditions along the whole line, and timely clean up the rain-washed and congested ditches, road silt and garbage to ensure that the road continues to be smooth, they have followed the prescription (maintenance schedule) developed by their company and approved by government through the Sierra Leone Road Authority.
At junctions where potholes have been created due to the above reasons, the maintenance team will use high strength concreted materials to repair the road surface, which is strong and durable, rather than the traditional methods of residents using simple materials to fill the potholes. Due to the timely and careful maintenance and responsible solution of many road problems by CRSG, the Wellington-Masiaka Highway remains one of the best roads in Sierra Leone.
It is obvious to commuters on this road that CRSG are constantly undertaking road maintenance activities which is the required engineering solution.
However, it remains with the citizenry of the country to ensure that they stop all illegal activities such as excavating, cuttings and embankments, throwing garbages on the side walk and drainage system, etc.
It is good for citizens to raise concerns but it is equally important to give praise where it is due.
Let us don’t forget the great reduction of accident, travel time and vehicle wear and tear this road has brought to us. The numerous developments now taking place along the road corridor and the enhancement of accessibility to transportation safety, health care, education and generation of commerce and trade.
The few potholes deformation, drainage cleaning, brushing etc. are done promptly.
