Trucks to be delayed to reduce Juba traffic snarl-up

Traffic police and customs officers deployed at the Nesitu checkpoint have been advised to stop the frequent release of the trucks to avoid traffic snarl-ups in all corners of Juba town.

The Director-General of Passports, Nationality, Immigration and Civil Registry, Lt Gen. Atem Marol Biar,  said the truck divers should wait at Nesitu until late in the evening or very early in the morning to avoid causing traffic build-up.

 He said many people are using several streets in Juba during the day and while moving from work to their homes in the evening.

“In some countries in Africa, you cannot see big trucks moving day time crossing the town but here [in Juba, it happens] because you are releasing them to go to Juba and at the end of the day,  they are causing congestions. You will find traffic officers very busy them in Juba,” Lt Gen Marol.

 “It is better to keep them here for a while. Traffic and custom officers should sit down and agree on how you would handle this issue,” he added.

He revealed that in South Sudan, and especially Juba, there are a lot of things happening but the input of traffic police officers is needed to ensure progress in the city.

At the beginning of this year, the Chinese construction company met the Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil, to discuss the construction plan of the Gudele –Rock City road to Custom to avoid traffic congestion in Gudele One.

Later in August, hundreds of traders, among them roadside hawkers were forced out of the Gudele One round-about following the massive demolition exercise carried out by the Juba City Council.

Small-scale businesses such as kiosks, tea, and vegetable vendors were not spared. The exercise also involved the relocation of Gudele One taxi park near Lou Clinic to Gudele Central Market, located in Block 5 that left the street free of traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, on his way to Juba from Nesitu, Lt.Gen Marol was forced to walk from Gumbo to Konyokonyo after his convoy got stuck in traffic congestion at Juba Bridge. The vehicles spent about an hour before the road opened up. Gen Marol ordered the organised forces to prepare the way for the traders and commuters to move first and vehicles later.

This came after the traffic officers have failed to control the jam following a collision of two vehicles at the bridge.

 The rehabilitation of the Juba Bridge on the River Nile crossing to East Africa was started last month by an English company following several maintenance efforts by the national companies that could not last.