Africa-Press – Angola. Road with a huge congestion of vehicles and cones on the sides are the visible signs on Avenida Deolinda Rodrigues, starting from Largo da Independência to the town of Viana.
Sand trucks, cranes, cylinders and paving machines are handled by men dressed in green vests. The works include the assembly of new separators and are part of the inauguration program of Dr. António Agostinho Neto Airport.
Roberto Corrêa, general supervisor of works for the company carrying out the work (Afavias), said that the reconstruction has been underway since July. The works, he noted, began at Kilómetro 25 and go to Largo da Independência, with the placement of stronger and higher dividers, and a large part of the road is being paved and will have better signage.
“We are 80 percent complete with these works. They are being carried out as part of the inauguration of the new airport and will be delivered by the 6th of November , for the inauguration”, revealed the person in charge.
Roberto Corrêa guaranteed that it would be a work of quality and durability for all Luanda residents. But it warns motorists to be more responsible when driving and pay more attention to signage, to avoid potholes and broken dividers, while the works are taking place.
“We are doing a good job, although it is causing traffic jams due to the narrowing of the road. We blocked a large part of the road with cones, to install the separators. The crane truck on one side removes the station, on the other it is blocked. We are left with one lane in each direction. And where it is more bottlenecked, traffic gets worse. We are working to have a better quality road and we hope for the collaboration of motorists”, he appealed.
Motorists and passengers complain about the delay in the works
This was what was seen in motorists, especially taxi drivers, with frowning and irritated faces, due to the congestion that the requalification works are causing.
Many drivers and passengers complain that they had been in traffic for more than two hours and were late for work and other errands.
Justino Camela, 40 years old, has been a taxi driver for ten years. He considered that the requalification works are taking too long, making his work and the lives of passengers difficult, due to traffic jams.
“The works are making our work difficult. I recognize that it is for the good of all motorists, but the delay is too long. These works have been going on for approximately three months as they are requalification, there is no need for the works to last that long. Sometimes we are forced to to take short lines because of these constraints. We carried it, and just from Bela Vista to the town of Viana we spent three to four hours in traffic, when in reality the person could take ten to fifteen minutes to reach the destination. Because of this , we ended up charging a higher than normal amount. I hope they end soon, so we can return to our usual routine”, he appealed.
Rafael Dias, another taxi driver, recognizes that the requalification is an added value, but notes that while the works last, congestion gets worse with each passing day. “To get from Shoprite to the Congolese can take more than two hours, because we all want to get there at the same time, no one wants to wait”, he lamented.
Motorist Bonifácio Silva, who travels the Zango 3-Mutamba route, said that to get to work early he has to leave home at 5am to avoid traffic jams at “Deolinda Rodrigues”.
Fátima de Oliveira, a passenger, explained that since the works began she has been arriving very late for work. Your boss is already irritated by the constant delays and has threatened to take action if you continue to arrive late. She added that taxi drivers are taking short routes and some increase trip prices.
Francisco António, 20 years old, student at the Instituto Médio de Economia de Luanda (IMEL), explained that he had a Portuguese Language test scheduled at eight o’clock, but he did not arrive on time due to the traffic jam that has occurred on the road in recent months, even when leaving early from home.
Next to the pedestrian mall in the town of Viana, Press caught a case of attempted fraud. An individual of approximately 58 years old was intimidating Dona Maria’s son, just 12 years old, who was on the counter alone selling vegetables, his mother’s business, who was away for a few minutes, when the big guy appeared wanting to take the tomato without pay, accusing the boy of having received the money without him delivering the products. All lie. Chaos ensued around the bench, many people approached and the boy’s mother ran to see what was happening.
The case was resolved when a traffic police officer showed up and things were clarified. The thief left there, embarrassed at having been discovered. The ladies shouted “Older thief and criminal, he wanted to steal a child”.
Difficulties with motorists
Construction inspector António Teixeira explained that motorists and especially taxi drivers are experiencing difficulties, who often do not understand the value of the work that is in progress.
“We work on a shift basis, from 7 am to 6 pm. The night period, which is made up of two teams, one that works at night and the other in the early morning, removes the asphalt and applies the new one, including embossing”, he explained . .
The biggest challenge, according to António Teixeira, is working at night with little lighting on the road, as motorists, when they abuse alcohol, drive poorly and exceed speed.
António Teixeira said that he has witnessed several accidents since the work began. He witnessed the accident of a speeding motorcyclist who lost his brakes and collided with a truck that was parked on the side of the road. He broke his arm and leg, but there are reports that he is recovering and is now at home.
Manuel dos Santos, who coordinates a group of 22 men, said that the most important thing is unity among the group of workers so that quality work can be achieved. “We are always united and we manage to win the job day after day. I am leading a team of 22 people, a bricklayer and three assistants, the rest are operators. I have the responsibility of guiding them and I like the work they do. It’s the first Since I work here in Luanda, I’m enjoying it, as they always obey my orders”, he highlighted.
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