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OIC Road Project Leaves Trail of Business Disruptions along Bertil Harding Highway

OIC HIGHWAY

 By Annette Anta Camara (22329017)

The OIC Road Project, once heralded as a transformative leap for the Gambia’s infrastructure and economy, is now sparking anger and disillusionment among business owners along the Bertil Harding Highway, who say progress has come at the expense of their livelihoods.

Stretching from Sting Corner to the Airport Junction, the 22-kilometer corridor expanded to dual carriageway standard was meant to ease congestion and beautify the city for the OIC summit. Instead, many traders say it has created an economic dead zone where thriving businesses once stood.

Ebrima Jallow, a mechanic displaced from Bijilo, said the new road has crippled access. ’There are no proper exits; cars can’t pull over safely. People just drive past. We are losing money every day.’’  Traders complain that promised relocation sites remain incomplete or unaffordable.  Several have been forced to operate from temporary wooden kiosks far from their old clientele.

The absence of service lanes, pedestrians crossing and feeder roads has left businesses effectively cut off from potential customers. What planners envisioned as a modern expressway locals describe as a wall dividing communities.

Pedestrians now dart across high-speed lanes to reach shops or workplaces. “They built roads for cars, not people,” said a spare-parts dealer in Kololi. “We can’t even unload goods safely.”

Urban planners argue the project’s design overlooked mixed-use access. A modern highway should serve both movement and commerce,’’ said one Banjul-based urban design expert. ’If accessibility is sacrificed, you choke local enterprise.’’

Government Response

Officials insist short-term pain will yield long-term gain, yet two years later, it's getting worse. Mr Lamin Sanyang, spokesperson for the National Roads Authority (NRA), told The Standards that the road will "fundamentally improve traffic flow, attract investment and create safer travel conditions." 

He acknowledged disruptions but said mitigation plans are underway. “The government has paid compensation in most verified cases and continues to identify relocation areas. We understand the challenges, but the project’s national benefit will outweigh temporary inconveniences.”

An official from the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure added that feeder roads and pedestrian bridges are part of the project’s next phase. “Accessibility and safety remain priorities,” the official said. “We urge patience as finishing works continue.”

Public Discontent and Calls for Accountability

Despite official assurances, frustration continues to simmer. Civil-society groups and residents question the transparency of compensation procedures and the prioritization of vehicle traffic over local livelihoods.

“The OIC Road looks impressive, but beneath the asphalt are broken dreams,” said a civil-society activist who has been documenting trader experiences. “Development must include the people it affects.”

A policy brief by local researchers described the project as “a triad of failures in design, efficiency, and integrity,” echoing public skepticism about cost overruns and governance lapses.

Balancing Progress with People

Economists warn that infrastructure growth without inclusive planning could widen inequality. “The informal sector employs the majority of Gambians,” noted one economist. “If projects displace thousands without adequate safety nets, the macro-benefits vanish.”

For now, the government continues to celebrate the project’s nearing completion, describing it as “a symbol of modernity and readiness for global engagement.” But for traders along the Bertil Harding Highway, the immediate reality is stark: lost income, uncertain futures, and a daily struggle to stay afloat.

Unless corrective measures are introduced to restore access and support small businesses, the OIC Road could become remembered not for its sleek design but as a cautionary tale about development that left its people behind.

 

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