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  • Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Locust Community Residents Raise Alarm Over Abandoned Bridge Project

Locust Community Residents Raise Alarm Over Abandoned Bridge Project

Residents of the Locust community in eastern Freetown are growing increasingly worried about the stalled construction of the Locust Bridge, a vital route for daily commuters into the city.

 

The bridge, which was being handled by a construction company, now stands half-finished. Locals fear the situation could result in more accidents and worsen traffic congestion, particularly for those relying on the busy eastern corridor.

 

Community elder Mohamed “Pa” Jalloh explained that while engineers initially attempted repairs, residents had warned that the structure was beyond patchwork and required a complete rebuild.

 

“They came saying they wanted to repair it, but we told them you can’t fix a bridge that was already cracked and broken. It needed to be rebuilt from the ground up,” Jalloh said.

 

Within a year of those repairs, deep cracks reappeared, and one side of the bridge collapsed. Heavy rains this season have further damaged the embankment, washing away parts of the structure.

 

“This bridge is one of the main entry points into Freetown during rush hours,” Jalloh added. “Now that it’s down to a single lane, traffic jams are constant, and accidents are becoming more frequent. Just last week, a vehicle nearly ran into pedestrians.”

 

Commercial motorbike rider Saidu Sesay described the bridge as indispensable for commuters, especially when the main highway is closed during peak hours. “We will keep appealing for government help, but we will remain peaceful. This road, known as Old Road, is essential. The government must step in.”

 

Community members suspect that unpaid wages for construction workers may have caused the delay.

 

Responding to these concerns, the Chief Engineer of Bridges at the Sierra Leone Roads Authority confirmed that the project involves building reinforced retaining walls to stabilize the collapsed embankment. However, he noted that heavy rainfall has made it impossible to continue work for now.

 

He assured residents that construction would resume once the weather improves.

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