Liberia: President Sirleaf tours newly constructed bridge
By: Augustine N. Myers – After several months of work on the newly constructed Vai Town Bridge in Monrovia, followed by rigorous foot assessment by key government officials and partners, the convoy of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has finally plied the bridge amidst jubilations from community dwellers and onlookers.
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf cuts ribbon to the newly constructed Vai Town Bridge
The bridge assessment was part of several road projects dedicated and inspected by President Sirleaf over the week-end in around Monrovia.
The Bridge which connects the Commercial District known as Vai Town to that of the popular commercial area of Waterside collapsed in 2007. The Government of Liberia through the World Bank commenced the full rehabilitation of the bridge on December 26, 2008 but experienced slight delay due to geo-technical survey which report reveals additional studies on the bridge.
The bridge is however expected to be fully completed by late December
2011 and will be officially dedicated and subsequently opened to the general public for vehicular and pedestrian movements. The total length of the bridge is 240 meters. The new bridge is 13 meters wide with its cross section providing for 2.6 meters traffic lanes, two 0.4m wide concrete crash-barriers for vehicles and 2.5 meters wide pedestrian sidewalks on each side. The new bridge will be of three spans, with its outer spans being 70m and the center span 100 meter long.
The President during her tour dedicated the Rehab and Gobachop market paved roads in Paynesville. During the dedicatory ceremonies, President Sirleaf highlighted the economic reward the newly paved road will bring to the communities and its people.
She said the government of Liberia is committed to transforming roads around the country from laterite to paved roads which entails less maintenance and long durability in term of guarantee.
She called on inhabitants of the communities to take ownership of the roads and desist from acts that would undermine the integrity of our infrastructures. Other roads inspected by the Liberian leader were the GSA road, Neezoe-Parker Paint road, Logan Town road and Caldwell road.
For his part, Public Works Minister Samuel Kofi Woods thanked the various communities for their cooperation and patience during the road work and reassured them of government’s continuous commitment to rebuilding infrastructure around the country. Placing particular emphasis on the flooding situation at the GSA road, Minister Woods indicated that a study regarding drainage problem has been completed and the necessary action will be taken to promptly address the situation.
Observers believe these infrastructure interventions continue to boost the agenda of Madam Sirleaf and improve her chances of success in the forthcoming general and presidential elections.
