By Ben Samuel Turay

Public relations officer of the Sierra Leone Roads Transport Authority (SLRTA) Tuesday told Concord Times that plans were underway to reduce traffic congestions on Kissy and Fourah Bay Road in the east of Freetown .

Unisa Kalokoh said the two roads would be eased of traffic when road works on Guard Street , that is currently blocked, are completed.

He said they were working with Sierra Leone roads authority and police to reduce traffic on the two main roads leading to central Freetown .

Head of the traffic division at the Ross Road police station Inspector Osman Dumbuya said bike riders plying the roads were the major source of the continued traffic congestion.

“The number of accidents has also increased since ‘okada' riders took to the streets without any form of control,” he said.

Dumbuya said they were going to arrest motor bikes that do not follow road signs.

He said some of the okada riders were without helmets and license noting that both the okada rider and the passenger should have helmets on apart from the valid license he carries.

He said they have arrested over 40 riders who would be charged to court very soon; however, citing the lack of effective punitive measures as a bane to minimising the spate of crimes being committed.

“The punishment should be severe to stop the rise in crimes,” he said.

Acting station traffic officer at the Eastern Police PC 594 J. K Williams said the areas around Kissy and Fourah Bay Roads were overpopulated which was largely responsible for traffic congestion.

“The roads are not wide enough for especially bigger vehicles. This is another major reason for the continued traffic congestion on these two roads,” he said.

He hoped that when the construction of Guard Street would have been completed, the whole area would be cleared.

Poda Poda driver Issa Sesay said they were not happy with the heavy traffic in the east end of the city.

“At times we spend an hour or more from Cottage to Eastern Police,” he said and praised the police and the roads authority for trying to salvage the problem.