By: Yunus S. Saliu
In response to growing public concerns over deteriorating road conditions, the National Roads Authority (NRA), under the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, on Friday, 12th September 2025, began urgent road rehabilitation works in Churchill’s Town, a key traffic corridor in the Greater Banjul Area.
The intervention follows persistent complaints from commuters and pedestrians about the poor state of the road, which had significantly hindered mobility and increased traffic congestion.
Speaking during the nighttime operation in a brief interview with the press, Sulayman Sumareh Janneh, Acting Director of the NRA, said the initiative marks a shift toward rapid road rehabilitation methods that are designed to minimize disruption and complete work within a few hours.
“This new approach is aimed at addressing the public’s urgent needs while reducing the inconvenience of prolonged roadworks,” Janneh explained. “Our past experiences have prompted us to redesign our strategy. What used to take weeks will now be done in hours.”
The acting Managing Director noted that while the NRA possesses the technical expertise to undertake rapid repairs, equipment shortages remain a key challenge.
“Ideally, the NRA should be equipped to execute these works independently, quickly, and efficiently, often overnight, without relying on third-party contractors,” he said while adding that acquiring such equipment remains a priority for the Authority.
However, he assured the road users that the Churchill’s Town road repairs, though conducted under tight timelines, were built to withstand long-term use, noting that the delay in rehabilitation was due to factors beyond the Authority’s control.
The newly introduced selective resurfacing technique, where only damaged portions of the road are repaired, will save millions of dalasis compared to traditional full-road resurfacing.
“We are moving away from the costly and time-consuming practice of redoing entire road sections. Our new strategy focuses on targeted repairs that are efficient, cost-effective, and long-lasting,” he added.
Touching on drainage issues, Janneh acknowledged that inadequate systems often lead to waterlogging and faster road degradation. He said the NRA has conducted studies and submitted recommendations to address drainage challenges holistically across the national road network.
Meanwhile, Samba C. Mballow, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, commended the NRA’s new approach and pledged continued ministry support.
“We will continue to collaborate with and monitor the NRA to ensure that quality standards are maintained in all rehabilitation efforts,” the Permanent Secretary stated.
The successful execution of Churchill’s Town rehabilitation, according to the NRA, marks the beginning of a new era of responsive and sustainable road maintenance in The Gambia. West Field and Tipper Garage roads are among other roads in the pipeline for rehabilitation as soon as possible.
