MPW Announces Completion of the Du River Bridge

The Ministry of Public Works has announced the completion of the Du River Bridge that connects Firestone, and Duside Hospital with several other parts of the Country.

It can be recalled that on June 9, 2017, the Du Bridge collapsed as a result of heavy traffic diversion between Harbel and 15 Gate when the Liberian Government hosted the Summit of the Economic Community of West African States at the Farmington Hotel in lower Margibi County.

The bridge which is located on the Firestone plantation, collapsed when a truck loaded with crushed rocks was crossing.

Since then, there have been mounting calls by the public for the reconstruction of the bridge in order to alleviate the difficulty they encounter in commuting along the route.

The route which was regularly used by people traveling to the Duside Hospital, Kakata, and surrounding divisions of the plantation is the easiest route for those traveling from Buchanan to Gbarnga or other destinations north.

The Bridge which is a two lane carriageway, 160ft long, 24ft wide with a pedestrian walk was reconstructed by Jupiter Construction, a Liberian owned construction firm.

Du river old bridge

According to Jupiter Construction, the New Du River Bridge has a lifespan of approximately one hundred years, with a tolerance level or tonnage of 100 tons.

The estimated cost of the huge silver metal is valued at approximately One Million United States Dollars, co-funded by the Firestone Rubber Plantation and the Liberian Government.

Acting Public Works Minister, Ruth Coker Collins, took to her Facebook page on Tuesday August 10, 2021, to confirm the completion of the bridge pending dedication.

Acting Minister Coker Collins thanked President George Weah for his commitment to the infrastructural development of the country and the Management of Firestone Liberia for co-funding the project.

She noted that a date for the official dedication of the bridge will be made known to the public in due course.

The reconstruction of the bridge marks yet another milestone achievement by the government of Liberia under the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.