ITI, River Cess – Last month’s Cestos River Bridge collapse here in the south of River Cess county, has caused chaos across the country, severing the primary route from the capital to southeastern Liberia during the Christmas and new year holiday period.
By Eric Opa Doue with New Narratives
The bridge collapsed under the weight of a loader carrying an excavator that exceeded the bridge’s maximum 15-ton capacity. At the start of the new year thousands are facing uncertainty about how they will return home after the holidays and carry on trading activities that they rely on for income. “We are afraid because we don’t know how long it will take before they repair this bridge,” said Emmanuel Gbay, a resident and former commissioner of the district. “This is the only route here, and there is no alternative route except you use canoes which is a risky thing to do.”
The incident occurred after a loader carrying an excavator crossed the bridge, exceeding its 15-ton capacity: Photo by Eric Opa Doue
The collapse has left thousands of passengers stranded, as no alternative routes currently exist to replace the bridge. In the absence of a functioning bridge, some have resorted to using local canoes to navigate the river. But few people can swim and they risk their lives if boats flip.
“We’ve never seen anything like this,” said a woman who would only give her first name as “Life”. “People are risking their lives trying to get across. This is very serious, and the government needs to act fast.”
Economic activity in the area has been severely affected, with price hikes sweeping through local markets. A sachet of water, which previously sold for $L10 is now being sold for $L20. Transport fares have tripled: a journey between Monrovia and the southeast, once costing $L5,00 per person, now demands a hefty $L15,000 ($US75), a cost that is out of reach for most people here. That includes the cost of motorized boats which have become another temporary solution, with each passenger charged $L300, while motorbike owners must pay $L1,000 ($US5) to ferry their vehicles across.
For people like Mariana Fofana, a stranded traveler with a child with her, from Monrovia, the escalating prices are a daily struggle.
“Yesterday, my son was thirsty. I went to buy water, and the lady told me that one sachet now costs 20 LD,” she said. “And this morning, I asked for food and the woman said it would cost 500 LD for one plate.”
Mark Jloh, who is stuck with his wife and child, was also feeling the pinch.
“Every day, I’m spending 1,000 LD for food for me, my wife, and my daughter,” he said.
Drivers like Timothy Tarpeh, who brought passengers to the bridge only to find it had collapsed, have found themselves shouldering the costs.
“All the passengers I brought, I had to transport them across the river in a canoe to get to Monrovia,” said Tarpeh. “I have already collected money for gasoline, but now I’m paying extra to get them across.”
Mohammed Keita, a local snack vendor, attributed the price hikes to the double transportation costs he now faces.
“I have to pay more to bring in a sack of water to my business area,” he said. “And of course, I have to raise prices to cover the costs.”
In the absence of a functioning bridge, some have resorted to using local canoes to navigate the river: Photo by Eric Opa Doue.
The economic ramifications will hit most people in the region hard. The southeast is one of the country’s poorest regions, and the bridge has long been crucial for the transport of goods and services. Many small businesses, farmers, and traders rely on the bridge to access larger markets in the capital, Monrovia. The disruption is expected to exacerbate the already dire economic conditions for many in the region.
Just 11 days before the collapse the Ministry of Public Works celebrated the completion of “major rehabilitation” work on the bridge. Previously, the structure had been severely damaged by floodwaters during the rainy season in September, submerging the bridge for over two weeks. At the time, government officials praised the restoration efforts, emphasizing the bridge’s importance for trade, transportation, and the local economy.
A damaged portion of the bridge: Photo by Eric Opa Doue.
In a press conference after the collapse the Ministry of Public Works said a preliminary assessment had found the load-bed and excavator weighed 50 tons—far exceeding the 15 ton limit on signage at the site. A team from the Ministry’s Bridge Unit has subsequently investigated the damaged bridge and found it was “beyond repair”.
According to Mr. Myers, the Ministry is now working on plans for a new bridge but no dates for construction have been given.
A History of Structural Failures
The bridge over the Cestos River was constructed with funding by the European Union in 1989 to connect River Cess and Grand Bassa counties with the rest of the Southeastern Region in Liberia. In 2016, a 22-tire truck loaded with crushed rocks hit the bridge wall, causing it to give way and fall into the water. The collapse took months to repair, and the disruption had lasting effects on the local economy and transportation.
Blame on Police and Traditional Leaders Take Action
As the crisis deepens, local residents have begun to point fingers at the police who were stationed near the bridge on the day of the collapse. Many said the police should have prevented the heavy excavator from crossing the bridge.
“The police will sit at the checkpoint and allow that heavy thing to enter that old bridge, then [it] is something to investigate,” said Paramount Chief Bob Kofi Zar. “Just by looking at the machine, you will know that it is heavier than that bridge, so why allow it to climb on the bridge?”
In a WhatsApp note, Mr. Benjamin Myers, the ministry’s public relations officer, told New Narratives/FPA that the ministry notified the Inspector General of Police that his officers’ failure to enforce the load restriction was a major factor in the collapse. The officers have been recalled pending an investigation.
On New Year’s Eve traditional chiefs here barricaded the site of the collapsed bridge.
“We will hold the excavators and the loaders until the owners take responsibility for the damage,” Mr. Kofi Zar said. “If we don’t do this, they will just collude with the police and escape, leaving the burden on the government.”
The collapse has left hundreds of passengers stranded, as no alternative routes currently exist to replace the Cestos River Bridge: Photo by Eric Opa Doue.
Mr. Emmanuel Whea, Township Commissioner, voiced the frustrations of local citizens, demanding a quick response. “We are suffering.”
The situation remains dire, and with no clear timeline for repairs or alternative routes, the future of southeastern Liberia’s transportation is uncertain. In the meantime, local businesses are feeling the strain, and residents are becoming increasingly desperate.
This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the American Jewish World Service. The funder had no say in the story’s content
