By: Wilfred Duosi
The Senate Committee on Public Works, chaired by Grand Kru County Senator Albert T. Chie, has disclosed that the Government of Liberia is set to begin the construction of several key road corridors across Western and Northwestern Liberia.
Speaking during Thursday’s regular session, Senator Chie revealed that following extensive consultations with the Ministry of Public Works and a number of private firms, the government and its partners have finalized a major concession agreement for the construction and maintenance of strategic highways in the region.
The former Senate Pro-Tempore stressed that it is time for Liberia to take greater ownership of its infrastructure development rather than depending heavily on donor support, which he warned often slows down national progress.
Following the committee’s briefing, Senators at Capitol Hill unanimously endorsed a 225-kilometer concession road agreement aimed at improving critical transport routes in the Western corridor.
The approved agreement establishes a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Government of Liberia and Parvifort & Associates, which lawmakers say is expected to significantly enhance road infrastructure and reduce long-standing connectivity challenges.
Liberia currently has an estimated 12,000 kilometers of roadway, but fewer than 1,500 kilometers are paved, leaving a large infrastructure gap that continues to hinder trade, movement, and access to basic services.
According to Senator Chie, under the agreement Parvifort & Associates will finance 60% of the US$364 million project.
The company will construct a modern four-lane pavement from St. Paul Bridge to Clay, while the Madina, Robertsport and Clay, Tubmanburg stretches will feature two-lane roads.
He further disclosed that the Government of Liberia will provide the remaining 40% (US$140 million) over a five-year period, including US$40 million from the National Road Fund and US$100 million from the national budget.
Under the terms, Parvifort & Associates will maintain the completed roads for 25 years before transferring them back to the government.
The Senate’s concurrence followed a rigorous review by six specialized committees, which evaluated the project’s technical designs and assessed the capacity of the concessionaire.
The agreement places the project’s average construction cost at US$850,366 per kilometer.
