Great relief is coming to the people of Lugbehyee and nearby communities in Yarmein Administrative District with the commencement of rehabilitation on the deplorable stretch of road from Area-T Gate in Yekepa.
Mine Infrastructure Department has deployed road-building equipment along the road, with an Excavator currently working on clearing both sides of the road. Side clearing is important to allow direct sunshine on the road to keep it in good condition for a long time.
At T-Gate, where the work commenced, one can now stand and see Baapa in a distance because of the clearing, which was impossible as trees blocked the view of the town. Because of the bad state of the road, vehicles and motorcycles take a longer time to cover the distance between T. Gate and Lugbehyee, and onward to the Guinea border.
According to the engineers, the rehabilitation work will cover 26 kilometers, from the point it commenced to Bololehwee, near the Liberian border with Guinea.
With the presence of the AML Infrastructure team on the road, the commuters and residents of surrounding villages and towns are excited and expressed appreciation to the company for the intervention.
“We are now sure that the road will be done because of what we are seeing,” said Yarmein Statutory District Commissioner Thomas Gonotee.
Yalama Gono, a resident of Lugbehyee, said, “We are happy and appreciative to the company for its intervention in the road nightmare facing us. We were cut off from the rest of the district and now you are reconnecting us. Thank you so much.”
AML’s intervention comes following a request by the people of Lugbehyee for the rehabilitation of the road, as its deplorable state has impeded the free movement of goods and services between the surrounding towns and villages.
Unlike those of Baapa and Karnla close to the township of Yekepa, the people of Lugbehyee and Bonla face difficulties in transporting their farm products to Yekepa or Sanniquellie currently because of the deplorable state of the road.
“This road has not seen a yellow machine since 2012,” said a local resident.
Engineers carrying on the rehabilitation have assured that immediately after the side clearing is completed grading of the road will commence, and will later be compacted with low-grade ore in needed areas to help ensure soil stability.