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Written by Our Senior Staff
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Tuesday, 26 June 2012 20:20 |
Deputy Public Works Minister for Technical Services Victor B. Smith says the government of Liberia and the African Development Bank (ADB) are engaged in the process of transforming Fishtown-Harper road in southeastern Liberia into an asphalt pavement which will create easy and long lasting access to the people of that region.
Minister Smith made the disclosure when he served as a proxy for Public Works Minister Samuel Kofi Woods at the dedicatory ceremony for the newly rehabilitated Fishtown to Harper road over the weekend at the Gee Bridge in River Gee County.
He said the government of Liberia had already set aside U$2million for the feasibility studies of both roads stretching between Ganta and Fishtown as well as between Harper and Fishtown. He further disclosed that the Government of Liberia will commit U$30 million for the first year and U$45 million each year for the succeeding years after the feasibility studies followed by the commencement of the road work.
Minister Smith explained that due to the swift implementation of the Fishtown-Harper road project which was jointly funded by the Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank, Liberia has climbed considerably in ADB Country portfolio which signals positive steps in Liberia’s profile.
He indicated to the audience that the ADB has also expressed interest in protecting such a huge investment and as such, they have agreed to pave the stretch of road between Fishtown to Harper which is 130 kilometers long.
In terms of maintenance of the road ahead of the finalization of the pavement, Minister Smith maintained that his Ministry has brought into the country several machines that will be used for the constant maintenance of the road after expiration of the one-year defect liability period.
Speaking earlier, the Vice President of Liberia Ambassador Joseph Boakai called on the citizens to remain calm as government was doing everything to improve their lives. He said there was a need to resist any attempt by anyone to undermine and abuse the efforts of government in rebuilding our infrastructure. He made particular emphasis on people involve in removing gravel from the road and doing direct sand mining under the bridges.
Also speaking at the dedicatory ceremony, the Superintendents of River Gee and Maryland Counties expressed overwhelming gratitude to the government for demonstrating the political will despite numerous infrastructure demands around the country to invest and change the lives of their people. Superintendent Daniel Johnson of River Gee admitted that although the population in the region is very low as compare to other region, directing such huge investment in their region further manifest government determination to improve the lives of its people.
For his part, Superintendent Gblepo Doe of Maryland recounted numerous challenges they earlier faced as the result of the bad road including the deaths of his citizens hailing from Maryland. He similarly thanked the government particularly the Ministry of Public Works for rising up to the challenge.
The rehabilitation of the Fishtown to Harper road is one phase of the project which is largely categorized under the Labor-Based Public Works project. The project was designed to support sustainable livelihood in the project area of Maryland and River Gee Counties. Beside the road work, the construction and rehabilitation of ten schools and ten clinics, 5 each in both counties are included in the project as well as capacity development for infrastructure maintenance.
The Project was designed for the Rehabilitation of the Fishtown-Harper Road into an all weather laterite Road. The Rehabilitation Works were parceled into two lots tendered on International Competitive Bidding (ICB). Lot #1 was awarded to S.S.F. Entrepreneur, Inc and Lot #2 to China Henan International Group Cooperation Ltd. (CHICO). Lot #1 is 76.3 km long, commencing at Harper, Maryland County and ending at the Gee River Bridge in River Gee County. Lot #2 is 54.4 km long and commences at the Gee River Bridge and ends one kilometer beyond the City of Fishtown, River Gee County.
Other dignitaries at the dedicatory ceremony were Senators Sando Johnson and John Ballout of Bomi and Maryland Counties and executives of SSF and CHICO. The ceremony was marked with speeches from the local authorities and the youth group who all expressed joy for their new road.
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