‘Our backs and ribs suffered’: Choya riders hail long-awaited road project

By Mama A. Touray

Motorcycle riders and residents in Choya have welcomed the construction of a 20.5km road linking several communities in the Central River Region, saying the project will relieve years of poor road conditions, costly vehicle repairs, and high transport fares.

The government-funded project, being implemented by the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, will connect Choya, Sare Bakary, Pinai, Katamina, Malikunda, Dankunku, Missera, Jessadi, Si Kunda, Makema, Touba Mbakeh and Wellingara.

President Adama Barrow laid the foundation stone for the road on May 19, 2026.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, motorcycle rider Momodou Bah said poor road conditions had made daily travel difficult for riders.

“We faced lots of challenges before this project came here. On a daily basis, we take our motorcycles for maintenance. Either the tyre is busted, or something is broken, which leaves you with no choice but to take it for maintenance.”

Bah said dust and potholes were among the biggest challenges.

“The dust usually disturbs us a lot as the road was full of potholes.”

He added that constant riding on the road often left riders suffering from aches and pains.

“When one gets off work, you realise that your ribs and your back hurt due to the bouncing of the motorcycles, and if you continuously use this road for days, you must relax for two to three days before riding again due to the back and rib pain it gives you.”

Bah expressed gratitude for the project, saying it would make travel easier and reduce damage to motorcycles.

“We are very grateful for the project, and one of the good things the road will do for us is that our machines will not be damaged easily on the way, as long as we have a good road. Going and coming will also be easy. As a matter of fact, you can even bathe, dress well and ride your motorcycle, unlike before.”

He said residents were pleased to see construction underway and looked forward to overcoming many of the challenges they currently faced.

Meanwhile, Elo Bah, a Pinai resident, said the road could help lower transport costs for commuters.

“This road, when completed, will ease the hardship it places on us. Even the transport fee will decrease because from here to Dankunku, we pay D150 and when returning, you pay D150 again, which is D300.”

He said the road often became difficult to use during the rainy season because of potholes and stagnant water, with riders frequently avoiding flooded sections.

Bah described the project as historic, saying communities had sought the road since the days of former President Sir Dawda Jawara.

“The importance of this road under construction cannot be overemphasised. When completed, it will bring significant development, and the development of this road is historic because, since late former President Jawara’s regime, we have been struggling to have this road developed, but it was not possible.”