The Life Threatening Monrovia/RIA Highway Worries Road Users Mainly At Night

The usual reconstruction of the Monrovia/Roberts International Highway by a Chinese owned company, the East International continues to worry many travelers who on a daily basis on that life threatening ‘Super Highway’ due to the way it been handled by the contractors of the company.

It can be recalled that on February 20, 2020, President George Manneh Weah broke grounds for the expansion and pavement of the RIA Highway, the 45km links Monrovia to the airport, and is considered as the country’s international route to the city. The project, which is being implemented through a Chinese company (East International Group} and China Railways spearheading the contractors which report said was put at US$95m, and later reportedly increased to US$118m.

Due to the way contractors of this road project are handling its construction, drivers of vehicles who ply this road mainly at night, are finding it very difficult to drive smoothly; while occupants themselves battle with fear as to when will they pass through such deathtrap as a vehicle recently drove off the road.

Following public outcry of the danger posed to travelers at night and day, the Minister of Public Works, Ruth Coker-Collins justified recently that the threats being posed on that road, according to her is due to Climax Change, such statement baffled many who are questioning the Minister as to the way such contract is been handled; posing threats to road users.

Effort by GNN-Liberia to contact the Minister of Public Works and  one of the  executives of the China-Liberia joint venture company, Kelvin Burma via mobile phone proved unsuccessful.

Information in the possession of this outlet revealed that in order to successfully carryout this project, a loan of US$25m was secured from the Afrique SN Bank of Egypt  using the Central Bank of Liberia as collateral, and reportedly signed by the Liberian government, indicating that in case the company fails to pay GoL will take the responsibility.

Investigation continues.