President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has officially broken ground for a US$363.9 million Western Corridor road network, a landmark 255-kilometer infrastructure project expected to transform connectivity, trade, and economic activity across western Liberia.
The multi-corridor initiative spans Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Lofa counties, linking key economic and border routes in what officials describe as one of the most ambitious road development programs in recent years. The project is scheduled for completion within five years, after which it will transition into a long-term tolling, operations, and maintenance phase under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Hybrid Annuity Model that blends Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) with Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) financing structures.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, President Boakai framed the project as a defining step in Liberia’s push to modernize its infrastructure and unlock long-term economic potential.
“This Project will be built to international standards, with climate resilience, enhanced engineering, and a sustainable maintenance framework to serve both present and future generations,” the President declared.
He emphasized that the Western Corridor is part of a broader national infrastructure agenda designed to improve mobility, strengthen regional trade, and accelerate inclusive growth across Liberia.
Key components of the project include the upgrading of the St. Paul Bridge to Klay road (38 kilometers dual carriageway), Klay to Bo Waterside (79 kilometers single carriageway), Klay to Tubmanburg (22 kilometers), Madina to Robertsport (30 kilometers), and the northern stretch from Voinjama to Kolahun to Mendikorma (86 kilometers), bringing the total network to 255 kilometers.
President Boakai underscored the regional importance of the initiative, noting that, alongside planned Mano River and Kongo corridors, the project will position Liberia as a strategic gateway within West Africa.
“This is about dignity and opportunity for our people,” he said. “It opens vital access routes, reduces travel time, lowers transportation costs, and connects communities that have long been isolated.”
He further highlighted that the financing arrangement reflects strong collaboration between the Government of Liberia and private sector partners, enabling the mobilization of nearly US$364 million for durable infrastructure development.
“This is a transformational step in opening up the country and bringing tangible relief to our people,” he added, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to equitable development nationwide.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Julius Maada Bio described the project as a symbol of regional cooperation and economic integration.
“The 255-kilometer corridor represents the future of West Africa,” President Bio said. “It will connect nations, facilitate trade, and bring us closer as a region. What we witness today is not just infrastructure development—it is the dividend of peace, stability, and cooperation.”
Providing technical insights, Deputy Public Works Minister for Technical Services and Acting Minister Prince Tambah detailed the engineering scope of the project.
“From an engineering standpoint, the project comprises a mix of four-lane dual carriageways and two-lane single carriageways, carefully designed to international standards and adapted to Liberia’s terrain, traffic demand, and environmental conditions,” he explained. “A key segment from St. Paul’s Bridge to Bo Waterside will be developed to expressway standards, serving as a critical trade and transport link to Sierra Leone.”
He added that the combined corridors form a strategic national network intended to drive economic growth, strengthen regional trade, and enhance national integration.
The project builds on a major milestone reached on December 4, 2025, when the Government of Liberia ratified a 25-year concession agreement valued at US$363.9 million with PAVIFORT AL ASSOCIATES, INC. Under the Design, Build, Operate, and Transfer (DBOT) model, the agreement commits to constructing and maintaining key road corridors across Liberia’s western and northern regions, with completion targeted by 2030.
Pavi Fort-Al Associates is a prominent Sierra Leonean civil engineering and construction firm operating across West Africa, specializing in road infrastructure,construction management, and design-build services. The firm has projects in Sierra Leone, Guinea, The Gambia and Liberia.
Once completed, the Western Corridor is expected to serve as a major economic artery—facilitating trade flows, attracting investment, reducing transportation costs, and improving access to markets and services for thousands of Liberians.
For many stakeholders, the groundbreaking signals more than the start of a construction project—it marks a pivotal step toward a more connected, competitive, and economically resilient Liberia.
