Government remains focus on Aggressive Road Agenda Says Minister Konneh

Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh says government remains focus on an aggressive implementation of its road agenda which seeks to connect major cities and capitals, while working to reconstruct dilapidated urban roads across Monrovia and the rural areas.

 Speaking at the dedication ceremony of the newly constructed Caldwell Bridge over the weekend, Minister Konneh disclosed that the newly constructed bridge will boom economic activities in the township, increase business opportunities and improve the standard of living of citizens as it would provide them easy access to markets, social service facilities such as health care centers and schools.

‘’This is the very essence of our poverty reduction strategy, which seeks to improve the standard of living for our citizens.’’ He added.

At the same time, Minister Konneh has lauded government’s development partners for their collective supports in widening government’s constrained fiscal space in giving citizens the development they deserve.

He admonished Liberia’s development partners to continue their strong support in working with the Government of Liberia on the Liberia Reconstruction Trust Fund (LRTF), which is a multi-donor trust fund that provides support for meeting national priorities as defined in Liberia's Poverty Reduction Strategy, and now the Agenda for Transformation.

Minister Konneh at the same time lauded President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for being focused on an aggressive road agenda.

He thanked past and present employees at the Ministry of Public Works who have played key roles in the accomplishment of constructing a two lane, one hundred twenty (120) meters bridge to replace the dilapidated old Caldwell Bridge.

The Government of Liberia on Sunday officially dedicated the newly constructed Caldwell Bridge connecting Caldwell to Bushrod Island.

The construction of the New Caldwell Bridge began in 2013, when the Government of Liberia signed a financing Agreement with the World Bank for additional financing to fund the Urban Rural Integrated Road Project (URIRP) to improve road access in the City of Monrovia. The construction of the Caldwell Bridge was one of the URIRP’s major components, with a total cost of US$8.23 million.