Bakoteh residents happy about Westfield Sukuta road

 

Presently, the construction work has reached an advanced stage as drainage pipes are being laid and concrete slabs for street lights have been erected.

Speaking to TODAY Newspaper Abdoulie Sanneh of Bakoteh enunciated that the infrastructural revamp has brought propitiating prospects of economic boost for residents.

 

“Though the road construction work has not been finished, this community has witnessed an unprecedented growth in business. Businessmen, it seems, are scrambling to establish themselves in important positions to attract more customers,” he said.

He added that the project has also brought extra-income to land lords as the demand for houses has increased.
“Many people now see Bakoteh as an ideal place to live with better road facilitating access to key business areas in the Greater Banjul Area like Serrekunda market and Kairaba Avenue,” he said.

Sunkary Kinteh who owns a business at Tipper Garage disclosed that the volume of trade has registered growth as work progresses on the road despite initial hiccups.

“At the outset, it was really hard as our customers looked elsewhere due to the problem of accessibility which hampered our business,” he said.

He however hastened to add that the pain experienced was minimal considering the benefits they stand to gain upon the completion of the project. He further noted that the project could not have come at a better time given the uncomfortable fact that Tipper Garage, which is the country's major centre for the sale of sand, stones, cement blocks and other building materials, was being over taken by others due to the poor state of the road.

Momodou Barry who is a van driver plying the Westfield Sukuta road linked an upturn in his fortunes to the improvement in the state of the road.

“I have realised that the number of commuters on this road has surged beyond the previous level which is just as it should be. I would like to thank the president, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh for his unrelenting efforts at ameliorating the situation of his fellow citizens,” he said in Wollof.

He observed that his van has not experienced a break-down for a while which he firmly put down to the favourable change in road condition saying, “the road was in such a condition that it did not just affect the durability of the car, but inflicted body pain on us; but thankfully it has now changed.”

Mr. Bojang, another resident of Bakoteh asserted that the better condition of the road has infused him with both delight and concern.

“The construction of the road is all well and good, but I do harbour fears about road safety especially for kids. The speed with which the cars are driving is a bit alarming and I believe something should be done about that,” he urged.

The Alkalo of Bakoteh village, Metta Jassey called for the construction of humps on the road to help reduce the speed of vehicles plying the road.

 

“We want them to help us build structures to help make us and our children less vulnerable to unnecessary accident. We need the road for development but our safety is important too,” he appealed.

He concluded that the on-going construction was an indication of the president's commitment to delivering on his promises to the masses.