The deal between the governments of Senegal and Gambia for the construction of a bridge over River Gambia has received a thumb up from a Gambian opposition leader.
In a rare commendation, Mai Fatty of opposition GMC hailed the government for concluding the talks with Senegal on what he called ‘a very important regional project’. 
Last week, the foreign affairs ministers of the two neighbouring countries signed the agreement for the construction of the Trans-Gambia Bridge. It came after Gambia secured a US$ 107.4 million funding package for the construction of a 24.4 km bridge and cross border improvement project.
Funded by the African Development Bank, the project will be executed over a period of five years, commencing 2012 to 2017.
“The trans-Gambia bridge and associated projects would be a great achievement for The Gambia and Senegal in its impact on security, communication, trade and poverty, the Gambian opposition leader said. 
Fatty added: “This significant development project, if ignored by the regime would have been negotiated and concluded by a future GMC government, and undoubtedly this is one of the few areas where we share policy convergence with the APRC administration. This is particular project has the potential to facilitate economic growth, expand business opportunities for the private sector and reduce poverty.
 
For the past several decades, the construction of a bridge over River Gambia has been one of the most topical in the bilateral talks between the two closely-linked countries. 
Senegal almost surrounded Gambia, and the River Gambia runs that country, making it difficult for Senegal’s south to connect to the north, amid poor transportation services. 
“We need the continuity of the country…We have other possibilities to go through Tamba Kunda but it is not a straight way,” President Macky Sall of Senegal was quoted as saying on a visit to Gambia, immediately after assuming office.