For the more than 100,000 residents spread across ten communities in DU-Neezo, a road is farer than a stretch of pavement.
It is a lifeline to hospitals, schools, businesses and hope for a better future.
That reality came into sharp focus on Saturday, April 11, when a cross-section of residents gathered to meet Montserrado County District #2 Representative Sekou S. Kanneh.
Residents spoke of the stalled pavement of the only major access road linking Jacob Town, Nicky’s, City View and Wein Town.
The meeting, held in the heart of the community, quickly turned emotional as residents recounted years of hardship caused by the deplorable condition of the road.
On behalf of the community, the General Chairman, Livingstone J. Gballai, described the painful human cost of the unfinished project.
He said, the damaged road has contributed to tragedies during medical emergencies, as patients often struggle to reach health facilities in time.
Gballai also spoke of several pregnant women who reportedly suffered miscarriages while attempting to navigate the rough road in search of urgent care.
For school children, the journey has become a daily burden with students leaving home early only to arrive late and exhausted, while some miss classes during the rainy season.
The road has also made movement difficult for persons living with disabilities, particularly those connected to the Mission of Hope for the Disabled, where transportation challenges continue to deepen their isolation.
The road project was officially launched on July 19, 2020, when former resident George Weah broke ground. Residents said, the contract was awarded to Solid Rock, with assurances that the work would be completed within six months.
Many residents believed the pavement would transform their lives by improving access to healthcare, boosting local businesses, easing transportation, and increasing property values
But those dreams have remained out of reach.
“It promised safer travel, better business, improved healthcare access, and a better life for our people. Today, we are seeing the opposite of hope and development,” said Gballai.
Residents say the work started, but was later abandoned after they were informed that the head of the contracting firm had died.
During the 2023 elections campaign, another company, Cement and Steel, returned to continue the pavement, briefly reviving public optimism.
Since then, the community says no clear explanation has been given, despite repeated promises that the project would be captured in the national budget.
Now, many say the delay has left them feeling forgotten.
Rep. Kanneh meanwhile, assured residents that their concerns would not go unheard.