Freetown, Sierra Leone — The Sierra Leone Police (SLP), working in partnership with the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), has rolled out a major cleanup and enforcement operation targeting chronic street congestion along the eastern corridor of Freetown.
The exercise, which commenced earlier this week, aims to restore sanity to key routes by removing obstructive roadside garages, enforcing traffic regulations, and improving the flow of vehicles and pedestrians.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, at the Senior Police Officers’ Mess in Kingtom, the Director of Operations, AIG Martin John Senesie, said the operation is initially focused on the Kissy by-pass, commonly known as Old Roadbefore extending to Calaba Town and other parts of the east.
AIG Senesie criticized the widespread conversion of public roads into private garages by mechanics and vehicle owners.
“People have turned the streets into garages, and that is really bad for the safety of road users,” he said, stressing that reclaiming these spaces is essential for orderly transportation.
He added that the clearance is part of an ongoing enforcement strategy rather than a one-off intervention. Officers will remain stationed along the corridor to maintain compliance and prevent a resurgence of illegal street occupation.
The congestion around Kissy Avenue and surrounding routes has long disrupted movement for commuters, emergency vehicles, and businesses.
Restoring these vital transport links, Senesie said, is also about enhancing the city’s appearance. “We want the public to see Freetown as a city where vehicles can move freely, day and night,” he remarked.
The eastern corridor remains one of the capital’s busiest and most problematic zones, frequently blocked by indiscriminate parking, informal garages, and traders encroaching on roadways.
The joint SLP–SLRSA initiative signals a renewed push to enforce urban order, improve road safety, and modernize transportation for the benefit of residents across Freetown.
