The Gambia Ports Authority has signed a 40 million dalasi contract with Danning Ship Yard of Netherlands for the construction of new landing bridges in Banjul and Barra.

The contract signing came after continual distruption of ferry services at the two docking sites in Banjul and Barra which were built four decades ago.

The managing director of Gambia Ports Authority, Ousman Jobarteh, told Gambiana “we have signed a contract with the Danning Ship Yard of Holland for a new landing bridge, and the contract is for a value of 71, 000 Euro which is about 40 million dalasi.”

Mr. Jobarteh said advanced payment had been made and the new landing bridges at the ferry docking sites will be completed before the end of the year.

However, commuters have long complained about the poor state of the ferry bridges.

Mr. Jorbateh admitted there are problems with the ramps that commuters and vehicles use to embark and disembark.

He said the old ferry landing bridges over the years had corroded and some of the sections had been in a poor state and needed to be replaced.

In March this year, the Banjul ferry landing bridge was closed for three days after a truck caused damages to the ramp.

The Barra ferry landing bridge was also closed in June for repair and maintenance.

Banjul-Barra ferry crossing point is the busiest river crossing point in the country.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba