In a landmark move to enhance road safety and modernize urban mobility, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation (MoTA) has officially handed over a suite of pedestrian bridges and traffic signal infrastructure to the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA). Friday 15 August 2025, The ceremony took place at the Ministry’s Conference Room, 7th Floor, Youyi Building.
The handover transfers management responsibility for key road safety assets developed under the Sierra Leone Integrated and Resilient Urban Mobility Project (SLIRUMP) funded by the World Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone, and implemented through MoTA.
Opening the event, Senior Permanent Secretary Edward Kwame Yankson welcomed stakeholders and underscored the importance of the ceremony for Freetown’s road safety and urban transport efficiency.
Delivering the keynote, Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ambassador Alhaji Col. (Rtd.) Fanday Turay Esq., highlighted a joint assessment by MoTA, SLRA, and the consulting firm Aries Engineering and Consulting Services. The review confirmed that all seven signalized intersections across Freetown are fully operational, meeting project safety and efficiency targets.
The Minister also noted that two additional traffic signals at Kinghaman Road, Tengbeh Town Junction, and The Light, though not part of the original project, were upgraded for public benefit.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the World Bank, the project team, and our local consultants, said the Minister. These assets will significantly reduce accidents and improve traffic management in the city.
SLIRUMP/CAMIP Project Coordinator, Hindolo Mohamed Shaka, provided a detailed overview of the project, which includes, 7 traffic signals powered by hybrid solar and grid systems, 5 pedestrian bridges, solar-powered control systems, supporting urban mobility infrastructure, including bus terminals, streetlights, and bus stops
Shaka explained that the project’s goal is to reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions and create safer, more efficient urban transport corridors. He also revealed plans under the World Bank-funded Sierra Leone Connectivity and Agricultural Markets Infrastructure Project (SL-CAMIP) to expand public transit services, install additional bus shelters, and deploy more traffic signals across Freetown and other cities in collaboration with SLRA.
Ing. Dr. Albert Forde, Senior Technical Advisor to MoTA, reported on the operational performance since commissioning by President Bio in November 2024. Aries Engineering managed the traffic signals until June 2025 and trained SLRA engineers to ensure a smooth transition.
The technical assessment covered major intersections along Ferry Junction, Wilkinson Road, and Lumley corridors, with each component from solar panels and signal controllers to CPUs and batteries inspected and validated.
The traffic signal assets handed over include, 7 signalized intersections with hybrid solar-grid systems, 56 solar gel batteries (including new units), 7 Growatt inverters
Traffic signal control rooms with EDSA meters and voltage regulators, spare parts, including CPUs, signal heads, pedestrian poles, and countdown timers, software licenses for upgraded intersections, operational reports covering October 2024 – June 2025
Receiving the assets, SLRA Director General Ing. Alfred Jalil Momodu expressed gratitude to the government, the World Bank, and project stakeholders.
This handover marks a new era in traffic control and road safety for Freetown, Ing. Momodu said, we are committed to maintaining these facilities and expanding traffic signal systems to other intersections in the capital and provinces.
He pledged to integrate maintenance into SLRA’s upcoming budget and emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in transforming the city’s urban mobility.
The ceremony was hailed as a milestone in Sierra Leone’s urban mobility agenda, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable infrastructure, enhanced road safety, and efficient traffic management for all road users.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday,18th August 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
