Residents of Soavimasoandro took to the streets yesterday following another fatal accident. Early yesterday morning, they demonstrated on the road connecting Tsarasaotra to Ivato, demanding the construction of a pedestrian footbridge. "We believe it is essential to build a footbridge to make crossings safer," said Fenohery, a Soavimasoandro resident. They argue that existing safety measures—including a pedestrian crossing, speed bumps, and road markings—are no longer sufficient to protect residents on this heavily trafficked route.
To make their voices heard, protesters erected barricades and set tires on fire, disrupting traffic. "We were surprised to see traffic blocked for so long when we needed to reach Analakely early. We were stuck in a traffic jam," said Rakotoarison, a motorist.
The tragedy occurred Thursday around 7 p.m. A young woman was fatally struck while crossing the road with her father, who was seriously injured. According to initial police reports, the driver fled the scene.
Demands
"We have been asking for a footbridge for a long time. Every day, many residents, including children and elderly people, cross this road. Accidents keep happening and nothing changes," lamented a protest representative. They also called for enhanced video surveillance to help identify hit-and-run offenders.
The demonstration ended after police intervention dispersed the crowd using tear gas. Discussions also took place with fokontany officials. Traffic subsequently resumed normally on the route.
Investigations continue. "Traffic accident investigators are analyzing surveillance footage from a nearby company to identify the vehicle," said an official source yesterday.
Meanwhile, municipal authorities announced that construction of a pedestrian footbridge will begin shortly. Temporarily, a speed bump will be installed to reduce vehicle speeds. Public lighting of the "Cobra" type has also been announced, with security ensured through fokontany collaboration to prevent theft or vandalism.
Pending these improvements, police will be deployed at the pedestrian crossing to help residents cross this busy road.