LOFA COUNTY, LIBERIA – The much anticipated road rehabilitation work across the country has begun in Lofa County. The aim of the intervention is to create year-round accessibility for citizens travelling across the country.
The first phase of the rehabilitation exercise targets the Voinjama to Mendikorma highway, which connects Liberia to Guinea and Sierra Leone. A local construction company, SSF is implementing the road project. The terms and condition include repair of damaged spots and construction of drainages along the road.
Lofa citizens interviewed expressed overwhelming joy, and described the intervention as a total relief of the travelling difficulties they experienced in the last 3 years. “We are happy to once more see machines on our road; this will help us travel with ease and avoid passing through Sierra Leone which is much expensive than coming straight”, some citizens lamented. The citizens underscored the significant impact the road initiative will have on their daily lives and economic activities in the county.
SSF Resident Engineer, William T. Fagans said his company is rehabilitating critical areas of the stretch of road between Voinjama to Madikorma within a timeframe of three months. Engineer Fagans disclosed that the road rehabilitation project is in support of President Joseph Nuyam Boakai’s commitment to improving road infrastructures across the country within the first 100 days of his administration.
In his campaign message to the nation, the Standard Bearer of Unity Party and now President of the Republic of Liberia, Joseph Boakai promised to keep major highways pliable in the first 100 days of his administration. “In the first 100 days of my administration, no vehicle will get stuck in mud on major highways in Liberia”, Boakai said in his campaign message.
Once the critical spots on the road are repaired, Engineer Fagans averred that his team will embark on a comprehensive rehabilitation process expected to extend beyond a year.
With convenient access to this road link, travelling time in vehicles is expected to reduce from 2 hours to 45 minutes to Kolahun, and 1 hour to Foya, depending on the types of vehicles and the skill of the drivers. With reduction in travelling time, the cost of transportation fare is also expected to drop. When the cost of transportation drops, delivery of goods and services will increase-thus improving the livelihood of the people. Mendikorma, Foya, Kolahun and Voinjama are major commercial and agriculture belts in Lofa County.
The rehabilitation of this important road link signifies a promising step towards enhancing connectivity, fostering economic growth, and improving the overall quality of life for the citizens of Lower Lofa County.
