Construction work has commenced on the Somalia Drive road in Liberia in the capital Monrovia, after Japan and the government of Liberia signed a US$57m deal for the construction of the road. The 2.7km road construction contract will be financed by Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).
The road has previously been paved twice by a Chinese construction company. According to William Judy Moore, the Public Works Minister of Liberia , the construction of the road will ease the huge traffic congestion on the high way.
The poor maintenance of the road has lead to its bad condition causing massive traffic jams on the highway due to high number of vehicles registered annually through the ministry of transport.
Area residents have expressed their joy for the ongoing project, as access to town will be easily and quickly as huge traffic on the road will be reduced. Presently, those who live in the Barnesville community along with those who have offices in town are forced to wake up at 4am so that they can be on time for work and as well as students.
Apart from the heavy traffic experienced the road is also dusty. But, residents living in the area are yet to be evacuated before the construction work begin in earnest.
Physical work on the Somalia Drive road started in 2014 but was suspended due to the Ebola outbreak in in the country. Previously,Liberia and Japan signed Non-Project Grant Aid worth US$4.2m for economic and social development.
JICA aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation as well as the sound development of Japanese and global economy through the socioeconomic development, recovery or economic stability of developing regions.
