Residents Raise Alarm as CSE Abandons Drainage Clearing Project on Hill Side bye Pass Road
By S.B. Amara
Residents of Hill Side Bypass Road in Freetown along Easton Street, have voiced growing frustration over what they describe as the abrupt abandonment of a drainage clearing project by C.S.E., warning that the unfinished work is worsening flooding and creating serious public health and transportation challenges within the community.
According to residents, C.S.E. workers recently commenced the clearing of blocked drainage channels and the removal of accumulated dirt along the road corridor. However, after working for only two days, the team reportedly left the site and has not returned, leaving the project incomplete and raising concerns among community members about the contractor’s commitment to the exercise.
Speaking to Voice of Salone Newspaper, several residents said they were initially encouraged by the commencement of the drainage clearing operation, believing it would bring long-awaited relief to a community that has struggled with poor drainage for years. Their optimism, however, quickly turned into disappointment when the work unexpectedly stopped without any official explanation.
Residents noted that large portions of the drainage system remain clogged with mud, debris, and stagnant water, while heaps of excavated dirt are still visible in some sections of the area. They argue that the limited work undertaken has done little to address the underlying drainage problems affecting the community.
“The workers came and started the job, but after two days they disappeared. Since then, nobody has returned to continue the work. The drains are still blocked, and when it rains, the water floods the road and affects everyone,” one resident lamented.
Pedestrians, motorists, commercial bike riders, and kekeh operators who regularly use the road say the poor condition of the drainage system continues to make movement difficult, especially during heavy rainfall. They warned that if immediate action is not taken, the road could become increasingly hazardous and potentially impassable during the peak of the rainy season.
Community members also expressed concerns about the health implications of stagnant water accumulating in the area. They fear that the situation could contribute to the spread of mosquito-borne diseases and other sanitation-related health risks, particularly for children and elderly residents.
Several residents criticized what they described as the slow pace of work during the brief period the project was active, claiming that the effort yielded little visible improvement despite the importance of the drainage system to the community’s wellbeing.
The residents are now calling on the Government of Sierra Leone, the Freetown City Council (FCC), the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, and other relevant authorities to urgently investigate the matter and ensure that the drainage clearing project is completed without further delay.
They emphasized that restoring proper drainage infrastructure is critical to protecting lives, safeguarding property, and ensuring the free movement of people and vehicles along Easton Street and surrounding communities.
As concerns continue to mount, residents say they remain hopeful that authorities will intervene swiftly to prevent further deterioration of the situation, particularly as the rainy season intensifies.
Efforts by Voice of Salone Newspaper to obtain a response from C.S.E. regarding the reported suspension of the drainage clearing exercise proved unsuccessful at the time of publication.
