By George M.O. Williams
The Mayor of Freetown told journalists on Tuesday that the Freetown Cable Car Project is on course.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE said that the project requires US$92 million and would address Freetown’s perennial transportation problem.
The mayor said that the project is a commercially viable one. She said that recently they presented the feasibility study reports to the Vice President Dr Juldeh Jalloh and their next step is to raise funding for the project.
The Freetown Cable Car Project currently comprises three proposed lines: the East Corridor; the Mountain Corridor; and the West Corridor. The feasibility studies have been undertaken for the 3.6 km long East Corridor route which will run from Kissy Ferry Terminal to Government Wharf via Up Gun, Mountain Cut and Eastern Police. The journey time along this route will be reduced to just 14.5 minutes.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr said that a cable car manufacturer has expressed interest in the manufacturing of the cars.
She said that there would be five stations which would be powered by a dedicated solar system.
Once operational, the cable cars will transport 3000 people an hour and 60,000 to 80,000 people a day.
The cable cars will reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and even road crashes.
The mayor of Freetown said their greatest challenge is to raise funds for the project.
The availability of the technical and financial feasibility studies funded by C40 Cities Climate Finance Facility and undertaken by GIZ increased the level of interest in the project from potential participants. “The support for the project by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Transport and the synergies between the Freetown Cable Car Project and the World Bank-funded Integrated and Resilient Urban Mobility Projects strengthens the investment case for the cable car.