All Set For RIA Road

By Bill W. Cooper
President George Weah on yesterday led an array of government officials to the ground-breaking for the expansion and construction a 45 kilometer road project from the Roberts International Airport to the ELWA Junction in Paynesville to be implemented by EAST International.
President Weah said the project is in fulfillment of his promise regarding roads connectivity as a fulcrum of his government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
President Weah, among many things, said that the main route towards the RIA had been a serious death trap since its establishment in the past years due to the narrowness of pavement and the lack of electricity which has led to the loss of many lives.
The Liberian leader added that the RIA project, which is a modern design, when completed will be very significant to the country, as well as the modern airport terminal, will present the beauty of the country to travelers coming in and out of the country for businesses or vacation.
President Weah pleaded with citizens to help his government in maintaining the road, stressing that the country’s infrastructure development is hugely supported by international partners; at the same time, he pledged his government’s unflinching support in towards more roads connectivity throughout the country.
Public Works Minister Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan said that the dual carriageway ELWA to Roberts International Airport Highway civil works cost is estimated at US$80 million, while the design and supervision cost is US$7 million and that the management and Resettlement Action Plan is about US$7.5 million.
According to Minister Nyenpan, the RIA road project will be implemented in three lots ranging from ELWA to the Junk River Bridge; the Junk River Bridge to the Roberts International Airport and the construction of the Junk River Bridge and rehabilitation of the existing bridge; as the project is expected to last for three years.
The MPW Minister indicated that the Urban and sub-urban section of the road is 22 km, width is 37.5 m with design speed at 80km/hr and the rural section is 23 km, with width of rural section at 35.5 with design speed of 100km/hr, adding that the road thickness, wearing course is 50mm, base course of 150 and subbase is 250 with six major intersection with estimated traffic at 12,421 vehicles per day.
Minister Nyenpan added that the road will have median reserved of 9.3 meters with pedestrian walkway of 3 meters on both sides in urban areas along with the road shoulder of 2.8 meters in rural areas, emphasizing, “Lighting facilities will be in the median of the road and road station at Marshall junction that will include the following facilities; parking lot, green area, rest rooms, vehicles service center, gas station, food court and convenient stores.”
“There have been no money reserved from any past government for this road project as the initial funding of this project was secured by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other private sectors and as of July 26, 2023, the government will officially dedicated the RIA road project,” the MPW minister averred.
The ECOWAS Special Representative, Babatubde Ajesomo said that groundbreaking ceremony marks an historic day in the country as the project should have been completed long time ago, adding that President Weah’s vision to lift the country to prosperity is well noted among the ECOWAS member states.
Babatunde said that he hopes the RIA road project will be built up to quality standard and completed in the timeframe given for the benefits of the citizenry of the country.