Fix Kigali's rush-hour traffic jam

Editor, RE: “Traffic Police needs to become more responsive to daily gridlock” (The New Times, September 23).

Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Traffic jam in some areas within Kigali needs to be solved especially during the morning rush hours. (File)

Editor,

RE: "Traffic Police needs to become more responsive to daily gridlock” (The New Times, September 23).

Thank you Mr. Ntayombya for the observation about the morning traffic mess at Gishushu – Rwanda Development Board road, and hope both the Mayor and Traffic Police will take appropriate corrective measures.

As you approach Nyarutarama Road from La Croix du Sud Hospital and RNP Technical Control Unit, wishing to go to Nyarutarama or to city centre via Gishushu traffic lights, the scene is a mess every morning rush hour and the road is overly busy because of schools in the neighbourhood. Parents who drop children to schools know what I am saying.

In cases of undisciplined driving or slight accident, hell breaks loose and chaotic scenes are the norm. Motorists occupy both lanes making it one-way roads; vehicles turning right and those turning left get stuck.

Simple solutions keep eluding our community. I often see decorated police officers helplessly sitting in their SUVs in the traffic jam. Can’t we have Police take charge?

Lord Mayor, if the pavement to the right could be knocked off as was done at Giporoso, the described mess would greatly be eliminated. I say this because when things become unbearable, cars drive over the pavement.

The cost would be very minimal, and in a layman’s language it could take one weekend to widen the junction.

Munga