East International, a Chinese company with no proven track record in road construction, appears to be cutting corners—perhaps prioritizing profit over public safety. By installing these weak and substandard barriers, they are gambling with the lives of Liberians.
The East Company, responsible for constructing the Roberts International Airport (RIA) highway, is endangering thousands of Liberian drivers by replacing the tall, solid concrete median barriers with weak, poorly constructed barriers. These new barriers—less than two feet high and made of only sand and cement—are simply not durable. They cannot prevent head-on collisions, even with the smallest vehicle.
By Rufus S. Berry II, MBA, [email protected], Contributing Writer
The Importance of Proper Highway Barriers
Highway barriers exist for one critical reason: to save lives. Properly designed, high-impact barriers are engineered to absorb the force of a crash, prevent vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic, and minimize the severity of accidents. On a major road like the RIA highway—where large trucks, commercial vehicles, and high-speed traffic are common—removing strong barriers creates a deadly risk.
Countries worldwide invest in solid, reinforced concrete barriers because they prevent catastrophic collisions. A tired driver, a mechanical failure, or even a moment of distraction can lead to a vehicle veering into the opposite lane. When that happens, a strong barrier can be the difference between life and death.
Profit Over Safety?
East International, a Chinese company with no proven track record in road construction, appears to be cutting corners—perhaps prioritizing profit over public safety. By installing these weak and substandard barriers, they are gambling with the lives of Liberians who rely on this road daily. The RIA highway is especially dangerous at night, with limited lighting and heavy traffic. A barrier that cannot withstand the impact of a high-speed collision is no barrier at all.
Just a few weeks ago, a speeding truck easily broke through one of these weak barriers, nearly causing a deadly head-on collision. This is not just a hypothetical risk; it is already a reality.
Personal Stories: Proof That Strong Barriers Save Lives
I am deeply passionate about this issue because I have seen firsthand how solid highway barriers save lives. A friend of mine, Josephine Francis’s grandson, is alive today because of the previous high-impact barriers. He had just dropped off friends at the airport and, on his way back through the VOA community, dozed off at the wheel—a situation many of us have experienced at some point. His car slammed into the solid concrete barrier, which absorbed the impact and prevented him from veering into oncoming traffic. While his car was severely damaged, he survived.
I, too, owe my life to a properly constructed highway barrier. During my tenure as a financial analyst at Hewlett-Packard (HP) in Silicon Valley, my team and I in the Corporate Financial Reporting (CFR) division frequently worked late into the night, often clocking 10 to 12 hours a day. This demanding schedule coincided with a pivotal moment in the company’s history—we were spearheading what was then the largest spinoff in Silicon Valley. The workload was grueling, and the pressure was unrelenting, leaving minimal time for rest or recovery. One late night, while driving home on the 580 highway in Oakland, exhaustion took over, and I lost control of my car. I crashed into a solid concrete barrier, and it saved my life. Had the barrier been weak or poorly built, I might not be here today.
A Call to Action: Replace the Dangerous Barriers Now
The short, unsafe barriers currently in place along the RIA highway—especially in (ELWA, Rehab and Thinkers Village)—must be immediately removed and replaced with solid, reinforced concrete barriers that can withstand high-speed impacts. The Liberian Ministry of Public Works must take immediate action to correct this reckless mistake.
We must demand better from those responsible for our roads. East International should not be allowed to put profits over people’s lives. We all have family, friends, and loved ones traveling this highway daily. We cannot afford to wait until more lives are lost before action is taken.
By speaking out, we may save a life today—perhaps the life of a stranger, a friend, or a loved one. The time to act is now.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not reflect the editorial judgment of FrontPage Africa.
