By Christian Appleton
Tabou, La Côte d’Ivoire – In a significant stride towards bolstering regional integration and trade within Africa, Liberia’s Minister of Public Works, Roland Lafayette Giddings, recently engaged in productive discussions with Ivorian authorities, contractors, and consultants concerning the completion of the vital Cavalla River Bridge. This bridge, a cornerstone of the Mano River Union (MRU) Project, is designed to seamlessly connect Liberia and Ivory Coast across the Cavalla River, marking a crucial step in dismantling trade barriers and enhancing cross-border transportation.
This pivotal meeting follows Liberia’s successful completion of a 16-kilometer road extending from Harper City in Maryland County to the Cavalla River. This road represents a significant achievement in the ongoing development of the MRU-1 project, which is being financed by ECOWAS under its Road Development & Transport Facilitation Program. The overarching objective of this program is to foster regional connectivity and facilitate trade between neighboring nations.
Demonstrating its commitment to the project, the Liberian government has fulfilled its obligations, including the resettlement of property owners along the designated route to clear the path for both the road and the impending bridge construction. However, despite Liberia’s commendable progress, the construction of the bridge itself has encountered delays due to pending resettlement actions on the Ivorian side of the border. Minister Giddings emphasized that the bridge construction can only commence once the Ivorian government finalizes these settlements, a step deemed critical for the project’s progression.
During his engagement with Ivorian authorities, Minister Giddings reaffirmed Liberia’s unwavering commitment to the project and highlighted its profound potential to significantly improve the livelihoods of communities residing along the shared border. “This bridge will enhance mobility, trade, and socio-economic development for both countries,” the Minister stated, conveying Liberia’s strong desire to see the project brought to fruition.
In a subsequent debriefing session with the project’s contractor and consultants, Minister Giddings and his delegation received an update on the progress of the bridge’s design and planning phases. The contractor confirmed that the planned bridge would span an impressive 288 meters (945 feet) in length, supported by two abutments and seven robust piers. The geotechnical analysis is currently 25% complete, while the surveying process has reached the 50% mark.
The contractor also offered an encouraging outlook on the immediate next steps, indicating that the mobilization of the essential steel beams would be finalized within two weeks, paving the way for full-scale operations to commence on the Liberian side of the river. Nevertheless, they reiterated that the full commencement of construction remains contingent upon Ivory Coast completing its outstanding resettlement actions.
The Cavalla River Bridge project, upon its completion, is anticipated to serve as a powerful catalyst for increased regional trade, enhanced economic cooperation, and strengthened people-to-people connectivity between Liberia and Ivory Coast. It stands as a vital component of the Mano River Union’s broader vision for a more integrated West Africa, where robust infrastructure plays a central role in fostering sustainable development.
As Minister Giddings’ discussions continue, the prevailing hope is that these concerted efforts will pave the way for a swift resolution of the remaining issues, ensuring that this crucial project progresses without further impediment.
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