Coomacka residents undertake road repairs

Mar 20, 2011 News

After  pleas for help to fix the lone thoroughfare to their communities fell on deaf ears, frustrated residents of Coomacka and Old England decided to help themselves by coming together and ‘doing something’ about their plight.
For years these residents have been complaining about the perpetual atrocious condition of the road, which they are forced to traverse daily.
Yesterday they decided to go one step further by actually initiating works on the road themselves.
They were assisted in this venture by Bai Shi’ling Sawmills who loaned them a Frontend loader. They also secured a truck from the Public Works Ministry courtesy of Lawrence Fiedtkou.
According to the residents, they were forced to take this course of action to assist themselves. The road had become virtually impassable, due to the current incessant rainfall, and out of the ten buses that ply that route only one had been operating recently.
On Friday many schoolchildren had to walk to get to their homes some four to seven miles away.
Residents are not blaming the bus drivers for the atrocious state of the road since the road has taken a terrible toll on these vehicles over the years.
Meanwhile, all buses to Coomacka and environs will cease operations on Tuesday.
Residents said that they had considered blocking the road to send a strong message to those in authority, but then decided that it would be better to meet with the relevant stakeholders, to seek to have this issue addressed.
The meeting is to be held on Tuesday at the Coomacka Primary School.
This stretch of road is very important, according to residents, as it is the access road to areas like Ituni, Kwakwani and Aroaima.