By Kebba Ansu Manneh
President Adama Barrow of The Gambia and his opposite number from Senegal, Macky Sall, has on Monday, 21 January 2016, inaugurated a $65 million ( sixty five million dollars) landmark bridge that connects the two banks of the country and equally served as the shortest connection for southern and northern Senegal. The Senegambia Bridge, according to the government, was funded by the African Development Bank(AfDB).
The approximately D4 billion bridge was first conceived by former government of The Gambia in 1979 and witnessed many unsuccessful attempts to complete largely to political and economic reasons which sometimes arouses border closures and war of words between the neighboring countries.
On the 20 February 2015, former vice president of The Gambia, Isatou Njie Saidy and the Prime Minister of Senegal, Momodou Dionne laid the foundation stone for the 1.2 kilometer-long bridge commencing the construction works. The long-awaited project stood the test of times in the pipeline as it remained elusive to two former Gambian presidents Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara and Yahya Jammeh as well as three former Senegalese presidents of Leopard Seedat Senghore, Abou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade.
“With the strong relationship that these two countries shares in common I cannot just believe but wonder why this bridge took too so long to be build,” President Barrow of The Gambia expresses shock as to the reasons his predecessors could not accomplished the project of building the bridge.
The Gambian president said the inauguration of the Senegambia bridge will mark the end of the suffering of the people of the two countries and beyond. He added that the long waiting hours endured by vehicle owners and commuters sometimes led to rotting of perishable foods, vegetables and even deaths for livestock and small ruminants, which cost farmers and small businesses a loss of money.
“For many years, a lots of agricultural goods from both Senegal and The Gambia perished in stranded trucks that waited for their turns to cross the river. Today’s ceremony marks the end of such encounters and it will bring an end to the suffering and even deaths caused due to the delays to be ferried across,” President Barrow shared the difficult journeys encountered by both commuters and business people at the crossing point over half a century since both countries gained their national independence.
He said the bridge will facilitate trade, promotes integration and free movement of people, goods and services, adding that the project will not only benefit The Gambia and Senegal but also the sub region and the African continent at large.
“The African Development Bank (AfDB) has fittingly demonstrated their commitment to supporting the development, unity and integration of the African countries and accordingly, we are grateful and proud of the bank,” President Barrow hails AfDB for bankrolling such a worthy project that is expected to improve the lives of the people of the rural Gambia. Barrow minced no words in commending the government of Senegal and its institution for the support rendered towards the completion of this national edifice. He said that the completion of the Senegambia Bridge will elevate The Gambia-Senegal relationship to another level.
“The Senegalese institutions provided us with all the supports, this is not surprising looking at unique and cordial relationship that exists between the two governments and our people,” President Barrow said as he applauds Senegalese institutions for their efforts in the realization of the much awaited Senegambia Bridge.
For his part President Macky Sall of Senegal said the Senegambia Bridge belongs to the People of The Gambia who are its rightful owners, adding that the bridge will promote African integration and facilitate both inter-and intra-trade between African countries. President Sall urged the people of The Gambia to give all the support needed to President Barrow and his administration in a bid to fulfilling his developmental aspirations for the people of The Gambia.
AREZKI, a Senegalese company that succeeded the previous contractors of the Senegambia Bridge, says it will last for one hundred years. The bridge will be fitted with tolled machines that will enable both passengers and vehicles to make payments intended to be managed by the National Road Authority (NRA) for the maintenance of the bridge.
To the displeasure of many truck drivers and Gambians, AREZKI says traffics on the Senegambia Bridge, for now, will be limited to light vehicles and commuters. Officials of the company disclosed that the project will be formally completed in July to accommodate all types of vehicles.