By Nakwam Rose
Acting Governor of Central Equatoria State, Paulino Lokudu Obedde, has officially reopened the Gudele Buaba road on Friday. The road has been partially undergoing renovation.
He was accompanied by Major Element Dismero, Clement Maring, the Minister of Roads and Bridges in Central Equatoria, and the Mayor of Juba City, Johnson Swaka Nishak. The team’s visit aimed to assess the construction progress and address the growing concerns of local residents.
Upon his visit, the Acting Governor officially opened the newly renovated road after a thorough examination, which focused primarily on addressing potholes and restoring the water drainage system, correcting its past mechanical deficiencies.
This road, which connects Juba City to areas west of the capital, has unfortunately experienced significant traffic congestion recently due to construction-related lane closures and one-way traffic flow.
The Mayor informed the public of their full awareness regarding the dire condition of the road, including its numerous potholes and poor drainage system, which prompted their swift intervention.
He also commended everyone involved in the construction process, especially the civilians, emphasizing that the road benefits the entire community, not just individuals or the government.
Swaka noted that the road repair took 13 days, citing this as a significant achievement for the people of Gudele.
He congratulated the residents of Gudele for this massive accomplishment and expressed hope for continued positive developments in the future.
The Mayor highlighted that the second phase of construction would commence soon, promising a better experience than the first phase.
“The second phase of the renovation will begin next Tuesday and will focus on constructing proper drainage to improve water flow,” said Mayor Swaka. “Traffic will not be interrupted during this phase as the road will remain open,” Swaka added.
Major Element, who is partnering with the city council, expressed collective satisfaction with the city council’s work.
He pledged to collaborate closely with all drivers and road users to ensure the road is well-maintained.
He also urged car owners to drive carefully on this newly constructed road to avoid unnecessary accidents and to abide by traffic rules.
“We had a major problem with the road, but now that it’s constructed, we have no other issue. We will have to be on good terms with the drivers so that each of us will know how to use the road. I also urge the drivers to be organized and follow traffic rules,” Element stated.
Mathew Ohuro, a resident of Gudele One, expressed his gratitude to the government for reconstructing the road, as it was in a deplorable state previously.
“Thanks to the government for the hard work. We are very glad that the road is officially opened for use,” Ohuro said.
Clement Maring applauded the construction team, especially the city council, for their quick response to the public outcry. He also urged residents to be patient and allow the government ample time to resolve their ongoing challenges.
“I would like to congratulate the Mayor and his team for putting in the effort to clear the potholes in this section of the road that caused people to get stuck and led to public outcry. We are happy for the swift response of the Juba City Council, and we want to appreciate them for rushing to address the public’s concerns and help the people,” Maring stated.
“I understand the needs in this area are very significant. When I came here, I was stuck because of the ongoing construction. I want to congratulate the city council for the effort made, and let the work continue,” he continued.
Local residents have welcomed the new development and hope that the hard work will continue, leading to even higher and more impressive levels of development.