The government says it has constructed over 1, 275 kilometers roads both in the urban and rural communities under its road and infrastructures programs throughout the country as compared to 750 kilometers of roads constructed since the formation of Liberia.
Public Works Minister, Ruth Coker-Collins, told the media community yesterday in Monrovia that the government has constructed roads countrywide and that despite the financial challenges, some have been completed while others are still ongoing.
She stated also that funding for the 85 kilometers road from Toe Town to Zwedru in Grand Gedeh County has been made available by government and donors but that the wait is with the Finance and Development Planning Ministry for formalization thereafter it shall go into motion.
Coker-Collins said at the moment, a team from the Public Works Ministry and contractors in Grand Gedeh are carrying out assessment and the rapid payment of structures earmarked for demolition as the procurement process gets underway for the formal work to begin during the course of this year.
About the 61 kilometers road between Saclepea and Tappita, she explained that the earth work like the construction of culverts on those rivers and creeks which are primary in road construction is done before the actual pavement is carried out by the contractors from the China Railway Construction Company.
The Works Minister also indicated that the government has secured funding for the 41 kilometers road between Tappita in Nimba County and Toe Town in Grand Gedeh County respectively but did not state when the construction work will start and which one of those companies won the bid.
The southeastern region, Coker-Collins said that has been the major challenge in the government’s road construction drive because there is always a non-stop rain even up to the present in those counties however, they are doing their best as the African Development Bank (AfDB) has agreed to finance the 65 kilometers road construction between Zwedru and Fishtown.
“Though the road from Zwedru to Putuken in Grand Gedeh County is deplorable at the moment because of the continued rain, Euro Logging Company which is operating in the area is doing some improvement work for which it must be commended. Because development is not only government rather the concern of everyone,” Coker-Collins noted.
On the Bong to Lofa, Madina to Robertsport roads in the western and northern parts of the country, she pointed out that works in those areas are progressing but could not state when they will be completed.
She stated that to complete all of the road connectivity across the country it would take between 3 to 5 years and assured that the country will get there gradually.
